HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Semitism

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of anti-Semitism in the UK.

Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers' national community tension team (NCTT) regularly produces a Community Impact Assessment which contains an assessment on the state of community relations, this includes anti-Semitism. This material is not shared with the public, as it contains operational policing information. The NCTT liaises with the community security trust (CST) at the national level on behalf of the police service. Forces with significant Jewish communities liaise closely at the local level. The Home Office's assessment of community relations also draws upon advice from Government Offices who in turn are informed by a wide range of community sources.

Asylum/Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were required to report to the police as a condition of their temporary admission on 1 April 2006.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not readily available as it would require the examination of individual case records which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in Kingston upon Hull North constituency; and how many of them are children.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 24 April 2006
	Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by local authority. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2006 will be published on the 23rd May 2006, and will be available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library. Separate arrangements exist for unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are supported by local authorities; the local authority receives funding from the Home Office for this purpose. As at the end of March 2006 NASS was reimbursing Kingston upon Hull for providing support to 13 unaccompanied asylum seeking children, this figure is based on management information.

Asylum/Immigration

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times  (a) a Minister and  (b) an official has responded to an hon. Member that a file has been lost in an immigration case in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to prevent such files being lost.

Tony McNulty: The information is not routinely kept and the cost would be disproportionate to provide the information requested. A range of measures including additional training and targeted exercises to locate files and update records is currently being pursued in order to reduce the number of files that become lost.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that victims of torture who seek refuge in the UK, including those whose asylum applications have failed, have access to medical treatment and counselling.

Tony McNulty: Asylum seekers receive NHS treatment free of charge while their claim is being considered. If they are to be dispersed, asylum claimants are advised on access to GP services in their dispersal area. If an asylum claim, including any appeal, is unsuccessful routine access to free NHS treatment will cease, although a course of treatment which has already started can be continued free of charge until the patient leaves the country. Immediately necessary treatment would not be withheld, regardless of whether the patient was chargeable or able to pay. In appropriate cases we will advise claimants of the existence of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture which is able to provide care, treatment and counselling.

Criminal Justice System

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to increase the priority given to victims by the criminal justice agencies; and what changes have been made to the criminal justice system  (a) to take more account of the needs of victims and  (b) to make the system more efficient and effective.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are committed to putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. In "Rebuilding Lives: supporting victims of crime" we set out our plans to improve support to victims of crime, by refocusing the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to provide more financial help to those most seriously injured and immediate, practical help to other victims through delivering Victim Care Units.
	The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime will help ensure victims get information about their case, and from April victims can enforce their rights through the parliamentary ombudsman. We are in the final stages of appointing a new victim's advisory panel (the last panel has just completed its three-year tenure). The panel meets with CJS Ministers quarterly to advise on all aspects of services and support for victims of crime. We have increased the amount of money we spend on victims; Victim Support's funding has increased from under £12 million to £30 million .
	We have set up 165 witness care units across England and Wales, giving victims and witnesses a single point of contact to help them through the court process. We have allocated over £3 million this year to improve accommodation facilities at court for witnesses. We have also consulted on proposals to pilot victims advocates in homicide cases. We have also established the prosecutors' pledge which sets out the level of service victims can expect to receive from prosecutors; reinforcing our commitment to victims.

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2006,  Official Report, column 813W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the exclusion of non-religious belief groups from eligibility for grant money under the Faith Communities Capacity Fund with the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 relating to official discrimination between religious beliefs and non-religious beliefs; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
	Non-religious belief groups were eligible for the Faith Communities Capacity Building fund. All voluntary and community sector organisations including secular ones were entitled to apply for funding provided they could satisfy the criteria.

Illegal Residents (Northern Ireland)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many people have been  (a) residing illegally and  (b) working illegally in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally, the Home Office published a report which included an estimate of the size of the illegal migrant population in the UK in 2001. A copy of the research and development statistics on-line report 29/05 Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/notes/june_summaries.html#rdsolr2905. The method used relies on data from the census undertaken every10 years, so it is not possible to produce an estimate for other years. Nor is it possible, using this methodology, to estimate the number living in Northern Ireland. No estimate has been made of the number of people who have been working illegally in Northern Ireland.

Migrant Workers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrant worker work permits were granted to farms in Bassetlaw in the last three years, broken down by country of origin.

Tony McNulty: Approvals for individuals to work in the UK agricultural sector are granted under the Work Permit Scheme, the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). The following tables show the approval information for each of the schemes.
	 PQ 69738 tables
	
		
			  Work Permit Scheme 
			   2003  2004  2005 
			 Pakistan 0 1 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Worker Registration Scheme 
			   2004  2005 
			 Czech Republic 2 0 
			 Estonia 0 6 
			 Latvia 4 8 
			 Lithuania 2 3 
			 Poland 15 41 
			 Total 23 58 
			  Note: The Worker Registration Scheme has only operated from 1 May 2004. 
		
	
	
		
			  Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme 
			   2004  2005 
			 Belarus 0 2 
			 Bulgaria 8 16 
			 Lithuania 4 0 
			 Russia 10 0 
			 Ukraine 2 17 
			 Total 24 35 
			  Note:  Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme applicants are recruited by Home Office contracted operators and information is only collated for those workers registered on the scheme. Previous to 2004 records were not collected as to which area of the country the workers were deployed to and therefore information is only available for the Bassetlaw area as from that date. 
		
	
	This data is not provided under National Statistics protocols. It has been derived from local management information and is therefore provisional and subject to change.

Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy when placing material in the Library in response to a parliamentary question to supply a copy of the material to the hon. Member who tabled the question; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: Government best practice is that Departments should supply a copy of material placed in the Library in response to a parliamentary question to the hon. Member who tabled it.

Prisoners (Hampshire)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK nationals  (a) are serving and  (b) have completed in each of the past five years, prison sentences in Hampshire for (i) murder, (ii) manslaughter, (iii) grievous bodily harm, (iv) rape and (v) sexual offences against children; and how many of those released in each category served half of their sentence or less.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 11 May 2006
	The information requested on UK nationals being held in prisons in Hampshire by type of offence, as recorded on the central prison IT system, is provided in the attached table. This IT system does not specify sexual offences against children as a separate category, so information is not available for those offences. The information requested on how many prisoners have been discharged from sentences from prisons in Hampshire is not available.
	The only way in which an offender would have been released before the half way point would have been on home detention curfew which, for prisoners sentenced under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, is statutory restricted to those sentenced to less than four years and not convicted of a grave offence. Those who are eligible are then subject to risk assessment. So few of these offenders will have been released before the halfway point.
	
		
			  Population of sentenced UK nationals in Hampshire prisons by offence and sentence length, 2002-06 
			   June 2002  June 2003 
			   All  Less than 4 years  4 years to less than life  Life  All  Less than 4 years  4 years to less than life  Life 
			 All 223 31 20 172 218 31 16 171 
			 Murder 158 0 0 158 157 0 0 157 
			 Manslaughter 7 2 3 2 4 0 1 3 
			 Wounding (inflicting GBH) 36 15 13 8 34 15 12 7 
			 Assault occasioning GBH 13 13 0 0 17 16 1 0 
			 Assault with intent to cause GBH 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Rape 9 1 4 4 6 0 1 5 
		
	
	
		
			   June 2004  June 2005 
			   All  Less than 4 years  4 years to less than life  Life  All  Less than 4 years  4 years to less than life  Life 
			 All 187 37 19 131 228 38 19 171 
			 Murder 118 0 0 118 146 0 0 146 
			 Manslaughter 6 2 0 4 4 0 0 4 
			 Wounding (inflicting GBH) 40 22 14 4 38 15 16 7 
			 Assault occasioning GBH 12 12 0 0 21 20 1 0 
			 Assault with intent to cause GBH 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Rape 11 1 5 5 18 3 1 14 
		
	
	
		
			   March 2006 
			   All  Less than 4 years  4 years to less than life  Life 
			 All 243 42 1 180 
			 Murder 151 0 0 151 
			 Manslaughter 2 1 0 1 
			 Wounding (inflicting GBH) 53 21 18 14 
			 Assault occasioning GBH 20 20 0 0 
			 Assault with intent to cause GBH 0 0 0 0 
			 Rape 17 0 3 14

Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the merits of giving the Healthcare Commission statutory authority to monitor and evaluate the adequacy of mental health care provision across the prison estate.

Gerry Sutcliffe: National health service primary care trusts (PCTs) assumed full responsibility for the commissioning of prison health services in the public prisons in England in April 2006. HM Prison Service previously held this commissioning responsibility. The main aim of this transfer is to help ensure that prisoners receive a similar level of service from the national health service as that received by the general public.
	As part of this, the statutory authority for the Healthcare Commission to performance manage prison health services, including mental health services, was automatically assumed when responsibility for commissioning prison health services was transferred to the national health service. The Healthcare Commission has responsibility for the assessment and performance of NHS organisations, which includes primary care trusts with responsibility for prison health services.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the estimates of additional probation staff needed to implement the Criminal Justice Bill 2003 contained in explanatory notes published on 21 November 2002 are still valid.

Gerry Sutcliffe: On 3 April in answer to the hon. Gentleman's written question number 63078 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 354W, I provided details of substantial increases in probation staffing since 1997 and of further planned increases. Comparison with the estimates that were made three and a half years ago is difficult because the changes introduced through the Criminal Justice Act 2003 are not the only ones to affect deployment of probation resources. We are monitoring the courts' use of the new sentences in the 2003 Act and, thus far, the sentences are being imposed broadly in line with the planning assumptions that informed the explanatory notes.

Sheikha Ahmed

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects Sheikha Ahmed, reference LR1918000565, will be notified of her immigration status.

Tony McNulty: Officials from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to Mrs. Ahmed informing her of the decision concerning her immigration status on 9 May 2006.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Personal Computers

Edward Vaizey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many personal computers are allocated to employees of the House.

Nick Harvey: The latest estimate of personal computers currently used in the House service, including those allocated to PICT which is a department serving both Houses, is 1850, made in connection with the programme for updating computers to Microsoft XP. Following the creation of PICT in January of this year, a more systematic process for central recording of information on equipment volumes and for keeping it up to date is under way. All House staff who require a desk and access to the network have a desktop personal computer. Not all desktop computers are personally allocated; some are based in work areas used by different staff at different times. There are further computers used for training and development purposes, and a small number of laptops held within individual departments.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his Department's  (a) advisory bodies and  (b) committees concerned with animal health and welfare; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: For information on advisory bodies and committees with which the Department works, but which also cover the work of other Departments I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on 9 May 2006,  Official Report, column 125W.

British Nuclear Group

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discount rate has been used to calculate the nuclear liabilities of British Nuclear Group in preparation for its sale by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Barry Gardiner: Following the European Commission's decision on state aid as announced on4 April (press release reference IP/06/428), financial responsibility for the civil nuclear liabilities of BNFL including British Nuclear Group was assumed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with effect from 31 March 2006. The sale of BNG was agreed to in the expectation that the State Aid decision would be favourable in allowing for this assumption of financial responsibility. As such, the sale of BNG does not include those nuclear liabilities and no calculations were needed.

Disability Pay Gap

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the pay gap between able-bodied and disabled workers in  (a) Kingston upon Hull, North and  (b) the UK in each year between 1997 and 2005; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce that gap.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Low Pay Commission reported that, in 2004, the pay gap for people with a work-limiting disability was 13 percentage points. This Department is not aware of any further data on the pay gap between disabled and non-disabled workers in Kingston upon Hull or the UK in the years 1997 to 2005.
	The Equal Opportunities Commission's code of practice on equal pay recommends that it is good practice for employers, when comparing the pay between men and women to also look at disability and seek advice from the Disability Rights Commission to ensure that the relevant provisions of the disability legislation are taken into account.
	As a result of a strong economy and active labour market policies, the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people is starting to close. The employment rate for disabled people was 38.1 per cent. in spring 1998, rising to 46.6 per cent. by spring 2005; over the same period, the employment gap fell from 35.1 per cent. to 28 per cent.
	The DTI supports the recommendations in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report, "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People", and the aims of the Office for Disability Issues and contributes to implementing recommendations within its area of responsibility.

Energy Saving

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to encourage manufacturers to place on the market televisions and other such appliances which switch automatically from stand by to off mode after a pre-set time.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply on 19 April 2006,  Official Report, column 729W.

Energy Saving Trust

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding was allocated by his Department to the Energy Saving Trust in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 27 April 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	Total funding for the Energy Saving Trust by my Department is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1998-99 19 
			 1999-2000 23 
			 2000-01 22 
			 2001-02 24 
			 2002-03 23 
			 2003-04 25 
			 2004-05 28 
			 2005-06 27 
		
	
	Figures for 1997-98 cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Ethanol

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the government of Brazil about the implications for the UK of its experience of the use of ethanol as a fuel.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not held any direct discussions with the Brazilians on the use of ethanol. However, the Prime Minister discussed the benefits of bioethanol with President Lula during his state visit to the UK in March. Part of the discussion focused on the study scoping a possible Brazil-UK-Africa partnership on bioethanol that is currently being undertaken by E4tech for the Office of Science and Innovation. This project arises from a visit made to Brazil by the UK Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, as part of the preparations for the UK G8 Summit in Gleneagles in July 2005. The final report on the study will be available for discussion at the Brazil- UK science days at the Royal Society on 22 and23 May. The aim of the project is to try and address two difficult global problems, climate change and African development, through a tri-partite partnership. Work is currently focused around achieving a win on climate change and African development through development of production capacity from sugar cane.

European Energy Charter

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the European Energy Charter.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government see the Energy Charter Treaty as a valuable instrument with important provisions on non-discrimination on energy investment, trade and transit and an energy efficiency protocol. The Government's policy is to help to enhance its effectiveness by encouraging all member countries who have not yet ratified the treaty to do so.

International Energy Agency

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on UK  (a) policy on and  (b) contributions to the International Energy Agency.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 May 2006
	The Government believe the International Energy Agency (IEA) carries out an important role as expert energy adviser to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (the OECD).
	The IEA organised the collective release of emergency oil stocks held by member states to address the loss of supplies and to restore confidence to the oil market in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It is also an international respected centre of technical energy expertise and is involved in the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development. The G8 asked the IEA to undertake significant work under the Gleneagles Plan of Action.
	In 2005 the UK paid an annual subscription of €1,459,674 (£962,833 at today's rates). The UK also made additional voluntary contributions from the Global Opportunities Fund that, in 2005, amounted to £144,695. The UK, as part of the G8, also made a contribution of €1 million to fund the work under the Gleneagles Plan of Action.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many  (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and  (b) vibration white finger claims have been submitted from Bassetlaw constituency, broken down by district electoral ward.

Malcolm Wicks: The breakdown of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and vibration white finger (VWF) claims requested above is set out as follows:
	
		
			  Postcode  COPD  VWF 
			 DN10 and 11 4,257 2,364 
			 DN22 996 749 
			 NG20 5,298 3,518 
			 NG22 3,138 2,307 
			 S80 3,280 1,776 
			 S81 2,811 1,489 
			 Total 19,780 12,203

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bereavement awards have been paid out as part of a miner's industrial disease claim in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Wicks: In total, 32,681 bereavement awards have been paid out as part of miners' industrial disease claims since 1999. The annual breakdown is as set out as follows:
	
		
			  Number of bereavement awards paid 
			   Number 
			 1999 1,324 
			 2000 3,186 
			 2001 3,789 
			 2002 5,040 
			 2003 4,634 
			 2004 5,242 
			 2005 7,006 
			 2006(1) 2,460 
			 (1) As at 7 May.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many services claims under the vibration white finger scheme have been  (a) submitted and  (b) refused since 1999.

Malcolm Wicks: As at 7 May, 50,699 vibration white finger services claims had been submitted(1) and 2,866 denied since 1999.
	(1) Some of those claims submitted may not have been pursued to settlement, having either been withdrawn or just not progressed.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum costs (i) have been claimed from and (ii) paid by his Department for common law (A) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (B) vibration white finger claims since 1999.

Malcolm Wicks: The minimum and maximum costs claimed are not readily available but the sums paid each year since 1999 are set out in the following tables:
	
		
			  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
			  £ 
			   Minimum  Maximum 
			 1999 ? ? 
			 2000 1,048 4,600 
			 2001 1,048 76,000 
			 2002 1,076 21,500 
			 2003 2,181 35,500 
			 2004 529 56,539 
			 2005 1,188 26,609 
			 2006 1,452 32,017 
		
	
	
		
			  Vibration white finger 
			  £ 
			   Minimum  Maximum 
			 1999 705 7,603 
			 2000 588 10,927 
			 2001 180 8,001 
			 2002 75 9,070 
			 2003 433 10,875 
			 2004 347 18,088 
			 2005 588 12,500 
			 2006 971 15,058

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which private contractors have signed up to his Department's claims handling agreement for mining diseases.

Malcolm Wicks: UK Coal, the largest of British Coal's successor companies, has signed up to the respiratory disease claims handling agreement (CHA) as has AGF, the insurers of the small mines owners.
	A list of coal mining contractors who are party to the 1999 VWF CHA(1) follows:
	A. Monk and Co. Ltd. (now Kvaerner Construction Ltd.)
	AM Mining Services Ltd. (dissolved 7 May 2002)
	Amalgamated Construction Company Ltd.
	Caledonian Mining Company Ltd. (now Calsafe Group Ltd. incorporating Caledonian Building Systems Ltd).
	CEMEC
	Cementation Mining Ltd.
	Cleveland Potash
	Davy Mining Ltd.
	Derek Crouch Mining Ltd.
	G. Elect Services Ltd.
	Hollybank Engineering Ltd.
	James Williams (Neath) Ltd.
	Kvaerner Construction Ltd.
	Low Valley Engineering and Shot Blasting Ltd.
	Matthew Hall Mining Ltd.
	MB Installations and Site Services
	Mining Skills Ltd.
	National Plant and Transport
	OMEC Engineering
	Small Mines
	Specialist Mining Services Ltd.
	T. Bridges and Co. Ltd.
	Techplus Mining Ltd.
	Thyssen (GB) Ltd.
	Trafalgar House Group
	UK Coal Mining Limited
	West Riding Technology
	Coal Investment
	Hatfield Colliery
	Midland Mining Ltd.
	Tower Colliery
	(1 )Please note that the VWF CHA has since been amended by negotiation with the Claimants Steering Group, which the above Coal Mining Contractors are only in agreement with in part

Offshore Petroleum Licensing

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 13 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 91-92WS, on offshore petroleum licensing, what protection is in place in the 24th round of offshore petroleum licensing for Cardigan Bay, as a special area of conservation.

Malcolm Wicks: There are several types of protection which will be afforded to any special areas of conservation within Cardigan Bay.
	Prior to commencing the 24th Licence Round, my officials carried out a strategic environmental assessment in order to predict and evaluate the environmental implications of the round.
	We will shortly be conducting an "Appropriate Assessment" (pursuant to the habitats and birds directives) of potential impacts of the 24th Licence Round. An Appropriate Assessment will enable my officials to ascertain whether the proposed plan or project is likely to have an adverse effect on the integrity of a relevant site. In carrying out this Appropriate Assessment we will consult the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
	Should any licences be granted and the operators subsequently apply to undertake activities that are likely to have a significant effect on a relevant site within Cardigan Bay then further Appropriate Assessments will be conducted at the project level. In addition, an environmental impact assessment may also be required as part of the permit application process.
	These assessments will be used to determine what type of activity may be licensed or consented and/or what form of mitigation should be applied.

Post Office Card Account

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will compensate those post offices which will be affected by the proposed withdrawal of the Post Office card account.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Post Office Ltd and the Department for Work and Pensions are currently discussing various options to help mitigate any impact on post offices resulting from the end of the Post Office card account.

Share Certificates

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's policy is on the removal of share certificates under a programme of dematerialisation; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government have welcomed the work of an industry working group which is looking at options for greater use of paper free holding and transfer of shares. The responses to the company law reform White Paper of March 2005 showed strong support for this initiative, but it is also clear that more information is needed on the costs and benefits of a paper free approach. The Government do not wish to rule out any option at this stage, and have therefore decided to extend the existing power relating to transfer of securities under section 207 of the Companies Act 1989 so that it could be used to require, as well as to permit, the paper free holding and transfer of company shares. In doing so, we wish to ensure that the new arrangements for paperless holding and transfer of securities do not deprive individual shareholders of existing rights which may be important to them.

Sub-Auroral Magnetometer Network

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of how the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's changes to the funding of the UK Sub-Auroral Magnetometer Network will affect amateur astronomers.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To maintain the health of its programme, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) has conducted a rigorous review of its investments. As a result of this review, PPARC has decided to withdraw support from UK Sub-Auroral Magnetometer Network (SAMNET). SAMNET records natural variations in the Earth's magnetic field, PPARC's assessment is that the withdrawal of support will therefore have minimal impact on amateur astronomers.

Telephone Numbers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many possible telephone numbers had not been issued to subscribers or service providers  (a) in the UK,  (b) on the Isle of Wight and  (c) in each London code area (i) immediately before the revisions to the numbering system in (A) 1990, (B) 1995 and (C) 2000 and (ii) at the most recent date for which information is available.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 24 April 2006
	The matter raised is the responsibility of the Regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Television Licences

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the value of the business brought to the post office by its sale of television licences.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The value of the business brought to the post office by the sale of television licences derives from a commercial contract with the BBC, and is therefore an operational matter for the company. I have asked Alan Cook, the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd., to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Thorp Reprocessing Plant

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely timescale for reopening the THORP nuclear reprocessing plant; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estimates that the thermal oxid reprocessing plant (THORP) is likely to be ready to reopen in the summer. A decision on whether to restart rests with the NDA Board is subject to the Health and Safety Executive's safety requirements being met. The Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will not allow THORP to restart until it is satisfied that these safety requirements have been met.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the average infection rate is for the  (a) H7 and  (b) H5N1 strains of avian influenza;
	(2)  what information he has received on the infection rate in other countries where there has been an outbreak of the H7 strain of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: The infection rate within a flock will depend on the stage at which the disease is detected. The rate of spread and local epidemiology within a poultry population will depend on many factors, but once the virus is introduced into a holding its rate of spread within the flock will be most strongly influenced by the virus strain, the host species and the production type.
	Recent incidents of low pathogenic H7 avian influenza in Italy have usually resulted in infection rates of 100 per cent., especially where the disease was not detected early and intervention strategies were not put in place. Early detection of low pathogenic viruses is particularly difficult since clinical signs are often very mild or not apparent. In the outbreaks of H7N7 highly pathogenic avian influenza in flocks in the Netherlands in 2003, 100 per cent. of birds became diseased when there was no early detection or intervention. The average infection rates for H7 or H5 avian influenza in flocks of poultry will depend on the influence of all of the factors mentioned above.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the infection rate was in each UK outbreak of the H7 strain of avian influenza in the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The infection rate, as determined by serology, in the three poultry premises recently confirmed with H7N3 was 100 per cent.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what testing methods are used by the UK Government to detect  (a) the H7 strain of avian influenza,  (b) the H5N1 strain of avian influenza and  (c) other strains of avian influenza; what information he has received on the methods used in other countries in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK national laboratory at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA), Weybridge follows standard international protocols (including EU directives) to detect avian influenza viruses.
	A combination of screening and confirmatory tests are used. Initially, samples are screened using a rapid, highly sensitive and specific real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) that detects all influenza A viruses. Further tests of this type are used specifically for the detection of H5 and H7 subtypes, in addition to conventional PCR tests that provide information on the pathogenicity of the virus.
	In all cases involving suspicion of disease in poultry, or following positive detection in any host, virus isolation in embryonated fowls' eggs is carried out to provide further characterisation. In addition, especially forH5 or H7 viruses, blood samples are analysedfor virus-specific antibodies using standard haemagglutination inhibition tests.
	As an international reference laboratory—and the EU community reference laboratory for avian influenza—the VLA takes a leading role in developing new technologies for diagnosis, together with the transfer and standardisation of such methodologies to other laboratories. The agency is also responsible for ensuring test harmonisation across all national laboratories and ensuring that common testing methodologies are used.

Carbon Trust

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Carbon Trust is exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Ian Pearson: The Carbon Trust is a private company and is not listed in the schedules of the Freedom of Information Act. It would be Defra's responsibility to answer any request for information held by the Trust on Defra's behalf.

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to address the effects on the UK of global warming; and what further steps he plans to take in the next five years.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 11 May 2006
	The recently published climate change programme in March 2006, sets out the Government's commitments both at international and domestic level to meet the challenge of climate change. The programme contains a series of measures between now and 2010 both to further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and bring us closer to our domestic target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The programme also contains commitments to adapt to that climate change which is already unavoidable.
	Further information on the new climate change programme can be found on the DEFRA website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/index.htm

Community Energy Programme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the community energy programme has had its funding programme curtailed; and what alternatives have been put in place.

Ian Pearson: The recent climate change programme review involved a wide-ranging appraisal of the effectiveness of existing climate change policies. We have concluded that other programmes deliver carbon savings in a more cost-effective way, compared with the community energy programme. These include support for biomass community heating through the new heat support scheme, which will include combined heat and power.

Dairy Industry

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent developments in the milk producing and dairy industry.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department commissioned a report from Professor David Colman and Yaqin Zhaung, 'Changes in England and Wales Dairy Farming since 2002/03: A Resurvey', which was published last year. This showed that more farms had ceased production than had been previously indicated and there was a higher concentration of more profitable and larger herds among those that left. It reconfirmed previous findings which indicated that milk production is likely to fall.
	Although the trend of farmers leaving the industry is not new, in terms of the sustainable future of the dairy industry, the apparent trend of some of the more efficient dairy farmers leaving the industry is worrying. We commissioned the report because we wanted some firm evidence of what was happening in the dairy sector. This is part of that evidence base. The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, is working to understand why these farmers are leaving. While it is likely that profitability will be an important factor, there are also issues such as succession and possibilities for diversification which need to be considered.
	The report, 'Changes in England and Wales Dairy Farming since 2002/03: A Resurvey', can be found on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/milk/pdf/colman3report.pdf

Dairy Industry

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to assist the dairy farming sector; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are helping the industry to help itself, for example by establishing the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker. The dairy farming sector is well represented on the Forum. We believe that the Dairy Supply Chain Forum has had a positive effect on bringing together all sectors of the dairy industry to discuss the challenges and develop collective solutions.
	The Forum has commissioned and published a considerable amount of research which has stimulated debate and helped provide information to help the industry make informed decisions about its future.
	The dairy farming sector has also benefited directly from grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme, for example to help fund benchmarking and the creation of a network of dairy best practice groups.

Dairy Industry

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken  (a) to strengthen the selling systems for milk and  (b) to improve the dairy industry structure.

Ben Bradshaw: The Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, has had constructive discussions regarding the National Farmers Union's 'Vision for the Dairy Industry' and the Milk Development Council's paper, 'Raw Milk Contracts and Relationships'. Ultimately however, decisions on selling systems are private commercial matters in which Government cannot get involved.
	Decisions on the future structure of the dairy industry are also for the industry rather than Government. Through the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, a considerable amount of research has been commissioned and published, which has helped provide information to help the industry make informed decisions about the future.

Environment Agency

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Crown copyright applies to Environment Agency data.

Ian Pearson: Crown Copyright applies to Crown and Government Departments. As the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body (NDPB), Crown copyright does not apply to Environment Agency data.
	The Office of Public Sector Information lists Crown and non-Crown bodies on its website at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/advice/crown-copyright/uk-crown-bodies.htm.

Environmental Industries

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the EU Commission on EU support for environmental industries.

Ian Pearson: UK Ministers and officials regularly discuss EU support for environmental industries with the European Commission. Under the UK presidency of the EU, my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), hosted a stakeholder forum on environmental technologies alongside Environment Commissioner Dimas on 1 December 2005 in Brussels. In addition, the UK has played an active role in the implementation of the environmental technologies action plan since its adoption. We continue to promote ways of facilitating the uptake of environmental technologies, including through Community research programmes and financial instruments.

GM Crops

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent announcement by the EU Food Safety Authority on the long-term safety of GM crops.

Ian Pearson: I understand the hon. gentleman to be referring to the press release issued by the European Commission on 12 April. This document did not make any new claims or provide any new evidence relating to the issue of the long term safety of GM crops. Its purpose was instead to give details of certain proposed measures which provide reassurance that Community decisions on genetically modified organisms are based on high quality scientific assessments which deliver a high level of protection for human health and the environment.
	The Government believe that Community decisions on GMOs are already taken on the basis of high quality scientific assessments which provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment. However, we support this initiative from the Commission which aims to improve the transparency of the procedures in place.

Leader Plus (Gloucestershire)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Leader Plus programmes are running in Gloucestershire.

Ian Pearson: There are no Leader plus Local Action Groups in Gloucestershire.

Recycling

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) grants are available and  (b) assistance is offered by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies for the promotion of education about recycling; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 8 May 2006
	The Government are providing funding and support for the promotion of awareness and education about recycling through a number of different programmes.
	Each local authority in England is receiving a share of the £105 million Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG) this year. This grant allocation is not ring-fenced and local authorities are encouraged to use it to support further improvements in recycling performance, including education initiatives.
	The Waste Implementation Programme (WIP)'s local authority support unit provides best practice guidance, practical support and consultancy advice, including public awareness and education programmes.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is taking forward, on behalf of the Government, a waste awareness and education programme. WRAP has a budget of nearly £16 million for this programme this financial year. Nearly £10 million of this budget will be spent on the national "Recycle Now" campaign, which includes television and news media campaigns. The remainder of the budget of around £7 million will be used to support local authority communications campaigns. The campaign also involves work with schools.

Sakhalin II Development

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had about plans for responding to oil spills in winter ice conditions in relation to possible European Bank for Reconstruction and Development funding for Shell's proposed Sakhalin II development.

Ian Pearson: My predecessor, and Ministerial colleagues from other Departments, have held a number of meetings, both with Shell and representatives from NGOs, relating to the Sakhalin II project. A range of issues, including the environmental impacts of the project, and specifically the question of plans for responding to oil spills in winter ice conditions, have been discussed.

Single Farm Payments

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of farmers waiting to receive payments under the single farm payment scheme in Suffolk.

Barry Gardiner: 120,367 applications were received for the single payment scheme (SPS). By the end of 4 May 2006 over 58,000 claims (48.5 per cent.) had been paid, a total of £552 million in full payment.
	31,000 partial payments have been processed to a value of £730 million. In total, 85 per cent. of the £1,500 million of expected payments for the 2005 scheme years will have been distributed.
	31,000 claimants were not included in the partial payments system, 26,000 because their claim amounted to less than €1,000, and 5,000 because of a diverse range of other factors which made their cases particularly complex. Making full payments to this group of 5,000 will now be given the highest priority by the Rural Payments Agency.
	The Rural Payments Agency does not have the data available on a regional basis, as the scheme is not administered in this way.

Single Farm Payments

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who signed the letter from his Department to the Commission for Agriculture dated 12 April requesting an extension of the payment window for the single farm payment until October 2006.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 3 May 2006
	The letter was signed by the Director General for Sustainable Farming and Food.

Single Farm Payments

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints have been received from farmers in Milton Keynes about the single farm payment.

Barry Gardiner: The Rural Payments Agency does not have data available on a regional or subject basis, as complaints are not administered in this way.

UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the March meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and its implications for the Government's policy on terminator seeds.

Ian Pearson: At the eighth meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Curitiba, Brazil 20-31 March 2006, Governments decided to reaffirm the decision which had been taken in 2000 that there should be a precautionary approach in field testing and commercial development of Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs).
	This decision states that products incorporating GURTs should not be approved for field testing until appropriate scientific data can justify such testing and for commercial use until appropriate scientific assessments with regard to ecological and socio-economic impacts have been carried out and the conditions for their safe and beneficial use validated. In addition to reaffirming the precautionary approach in the 2000 decision, the 2006 decision calls for the respect of farmers' rights to the preservation of seed and for further research on the ecological, economic, social and cultural impacts of GURTs.
	The UK Government have pursued a consistent policy on this issue, supporting both the decision taken by the CBD in 2000 and the reaffirmation of this decision in 2006. As far as we are aware, no crops involving terminator technology are in use anywhere in the world, and none are under active commercial development.

Veal

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ban the importation of veal which has been reared in crates; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Under both EU and international trade rules it would be illegal to ban the import of veal reared in crates. However, the UK opposes the use of veal crates, and banned them in this country in 1990. From 1 January 2007, veal crates will be banned throughout the EU.
	Many producers on the continent have already moved to other production methods and the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have also banned their use. Finland has banned veal production altogether and Sweden and Greece have no veal industry.

Waste

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 23 December 2005, from the hon. Member for North West Leicestershire on the reprocessed fuel oil, the Waste Incineration Directive and the draft Waste Framework Directive.

Ben Bradshaw: I apologise for the extremely long delay in replying.
	The Government have been in high level discussions with industry and stakeholders on these issues, and a reply will be sent by 26 May 2006.

Water Metering

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of households in each water company area has water meters; and what percentage of all households was metered in  (a) 1990,  (b) 2000 and  (c) the latest year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Each year it records the percentage of household customers with meters on an individual company and industry wide basis. This information is published by Ofwat in its 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' report.
	Ofwat holds reliable figures on the percentage of metered properties from 1992-93 onwards. Figures for the period 1990-92 are not available. The latest reporting year for which figures are available is 2004-05. Household metering projections
	
		
			  Household metering projections 
			  Percentage 
			  Measured Household Properties  1992-1993  1999-2000  2004-05 
			 Anglian and Hartlepool 4 42 54 
			 Dwr Cymru / Welsh 3 7 19 
			 United Utilities 2 9 17 
			 Northumbrian (North) 1 5 11 
			 Northumbrian (South) 2 23 35 
			 Severn Trent 5 17 24 
			 South West 4 23 46 
			 Southern 10 18 27 
			 Thames 2 16 20 
			 Wessex 5 23 33 
			 Yorkshire and York 3 18 27 
			 Bournemouth and West Hampshire 3 18 37 
			 Bristol 3 14 23 
			 Cambridge 5 42 54 
			 Dee Valley 4 20 34 
			 Folkestone and Dover 3 29 41 
			 Mid Kent 3 18 33 
			 Portsmouth 0 1 5 
			 South East 4 21 29 
			 South Staffordshire 3 9 15 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 1 12 19 
			 Tendring Hundred 5 33 61 
			 Three valleys 3 14 23 
			 Industry 3 17 26

Water Shortages

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of  (a) water shortages and  (b) hosepipe bans on (i) municipal floral displays, (ii) cricket pitches and (iii) the Britain in Bloom competition.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency has produced a report, 'Drought prospects 2006', explaining the likely consequences of a continuing rainfall deficit and recommending action by water companies and the public. This report is available on request from the Agency (telephone 020 7863 8710) or from its website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
	Hosepipe bans imposed by water companies affect the watering of private gardens. Some water companies in South East England have applied to the Secretary of State for drought orders to ban the non-essential use of water. If made, such orders could impact on the watering of parks and sports facilities.

Water Shortages

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long he expects the hosepipe bans in  (a) Thames Water and  (b) Three Valleys Water to continue; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The typical duration of hosepipe bans depends on factors such as the amount of water stored in local aquifers, base river levels and reservoir storage. The present bans in Thames Water and Three Valleys Water are likely to continue throughout the summer, and until there is enough rainfall for water companies to be confident they can meet demand for summer 2007.

Water Shortages

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amount of water likely to be lost due to leaks in pipes owned by water companies over the next decade; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Director General of Water Services publishes leakage figures annually in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports. Leakage targets are set by Ofwat, currently up to 2009-10. If all water companies were to meet these targets, total water company leakage would be 3,336 megalitres/day by 2009-10, a reduction of 272 megalitres/day from 2004-05 figures.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of his private office staff is  (a) male,  (b) female and  (c) disabled.

Nigel Griffiths: The office of the Leader of the House of Commons has 12 staff, 67 per cent. are male and 33 per cent. female.
	The provision of personal information on disability is optional and is held on individual staff files. Owing to the nature and size of the office, providing this information could result in the identification of individuals.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

First Level 3 Qualifications

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1591W, on first level 3 qualifications, how many 19 to 25-year-olds studying for a first level 3 qualification are paying fees for the course in each region in England.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 9 May 2006
	The following table shows the number of 19 to 25-year-olds who were studying for a full level 3 or equivalent qualification(1) in further education in the academic year 2004/05 by region, and the number of those in each region who did not receive any fee remission.
	
		
			  Region of learner  Level 3 learners  Level 3 fee payers  Percentage of fee payers 
			 North East 2,568 807 31 
			 North West 6,572 1,845 28 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 4,380 1,260 29 
			 East Midlands 3,927 960 24 
			 West Midlands 4,844 1,198 25 
			 East of England 3,652 1,491 41 
			 Greater London 6,431 1,978 31 
			 South East 6,840 2,323 34 
			 South West 4,866 1,970 40 
			 Region unknown 1,056 382 36 
			 Total 45,136 14,214 31 
			 Notes:  1. We estimate that of the 45,000 19 to 25-year-olds in England who were studying for a full level 3 in 2004/05, 22,000 were studying for a first full level 3 qualification.  2. We do not have estimates for "firstness" at a regional level, due to insufficient sample sizes in the research into prior qualifications in FE.  3. The research suggests that, nationally, there is no difference in the proportion receiving fee remission between first and non-first full level 3 learners.  Source:  Individualised Learner Record, 2004/05 
		
	
	(1)Does not include Access to HE qualifications or wholly privately funded study aims.

Free School Meals

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children in each school in Worcester city  (a) receive free school meals and  (b) are eligible for free school meals.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Two sets of figures relating to the number and proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals are given here. The first includes all pupils in the school, regardless of their age. The second includes full-time pupils aged up to (and including) 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 (inclusive). This second coverage is as used in the Pupil Achievement Tracker and Ofsted's PANDA reports and provides consistent school level comparisons.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools: school meal arrangements, January 2005, Worcester parliamentary constituency 
			  All pupils( 1) 
			  URN  LEA number  Estab number  School name  Number on roll  Number of pupils taking free school meals( 3)  Percentage of pupils taking free school meals  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 116749 885 2161 Worcester, Cherry Orchard Primary School 603 26 4.3 30 5.0 
			 116750 885 2162 Worcester, Cranham Primary School 418 49 11.7 49 11.7 
			 116751 885 2163 Worcester, Dines Green Primary School 204 58 28.4 61 29.9 
			 116752 885 2167 Gorse Hill Community Primary School 319 94 29.5 118 37.0 
			 116753 885 2171 Worcester, Northwick Manor Infants' School 262 (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 116754 885 2172 Worcester, Nunnery Wood Primary School 302 30 9.9 35 11.6 
			 116755 885 2173 Worcester, Perdiswell Primary School 400 12 3.0 13 3.3 
			 116756 885 2176 Worcester, Ronkswood Junior School 275 57 20.7 57 20.7 
			 116757 885 2177 Worcester, Ronkswood Infants' School 236 40 16.9 42 17.8 
			 116758 885 2178 Worcester, Northwick Manor Junior School 326 7 2.1 7 2.1 
			 116759 885 2179 Worcester, Stanley Road Primary School 256 22 8.6 29 11.3 
			 116760 885 2181 Worcester, Warndon Junior School 290 52 17.9 69 23.8 
			 116761 885 2182 Worcester. Warndon Infants' School 233 39 16.7 45 19.3 
			 116769 885 2200 Worcester, Pitmaston Primary School 601 23 3.8 32 5.3 
			 116770 885 2202 Worcester, Oldbury Park Primary School 396 17 4.3 19 4.8 
			 131274 885 2918 Lyppard Grange Primary School 310 9 2.9 9 2.9 
			 116858 885 3114 Worcester, St. Barnabas C of E Primary School 419 21 5.0 53 12.6 
			 116859 885 3116 Worcester, Red Hill C of E Primary School 300 6 2.0 6 2.0 
			 116921 885 3387 Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary 188 3 1.6 4 2.1 
			 116922 885 3388 Worcester, St. Clement's C of E Primary 260 33 12.7 34 13.1 
			 116923 885 3389 Worcester, St. George's C of E Primary School 205 29 14.1 33 16.1 
			 116924 885 3390 Worcester, St. George's Catholic Primary School 205 (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 116925 885 3391 Worcester, St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School 208 12 5.8 12 5.8 
			 134707 885 3394 Fairfield Community Primary School 141 0 0.0 39 27.7 
			 116977 885 4431 Elgar Technology College 957 150 15.7 211 22.0 
			 116978 885 4432 Christopher Whitehead High School 1,153 104 9.0 157 13.6 
			 116979 885 4434 Worcester, Nunnery Wood High School 1,346 (4)— (4)— 106 7.9 
			 116993 885 4754 Bishop Perowne C of E High School 1,047 47 4.5 64 6.1 
			 116999 885 5402 Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College 1,048 49 4.7 63 6.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil Achievement Tracker( 2) 
			  URN  LEA number  Estab number  School name  Number of pupils  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 116749 885 2161 Worcester, Cherry Orchard Primary School 603 30 5.0 
			 116750 885 2162 Worcester, Cranham Primary School 371 49 13.2 
			 116751 885 2163 Worcester, Dines Green Primary School 183 61 33.3 
			 116752 885 2167 Gorse Hill Community Primary School 272 118 43.4 
			 116753 885 2171 Worcester, Northwick Manor Infants' School 261 (4)— (4)— 
			 116754 885 2172 Worcester, Nunnery Wood Primary School 301 35 11.6 
			 116755 885 2173 Worcester, Perdiswell Primary School 396 13 3.3 
			 116756 885 2176 Worcester, Ronkswood Junior School 275 57 20.7 
			 116757 885 2177 Worcester, Ronkswood Infants' School 166 35 21.1 
			 116758 885 2178 Worcester, Northwick Manor Junior School 326 7 2.1 
			 116759 885 2179 Worcester, Stanley Road Primary School 215 28 13.0 
			 116760 885 2181 Worcester, Warndon Junior School 290 69 23.8 
			 116761 885 2182 Worcester. Warndon Infants' School 181 45 24.9 
			 116769 885 2200 Worcester, Pitmaston Primary School 601 32 5.3 
			 116770 885 2202 Worcester, Oldbury Park Primary School 396 19 4.8 
			 131274 885 2918 Lyppard Grange Primary School 310 9 2.9 
			 116858 885 3114 Worcester, St. Barnabas C of E Primary School 419 53 12.6 
			 116859 885 3116 Worcester, Red Hill C of E Primary School 300 6 2.0 
			 116921 885 3387 Worcester, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary 188 4 2.1 
			 116922 885 3388 Worcester, St. Clement's C of E Primary 216 26 12.0 
			 116923 885 3389 Worcester, St. George's C of E Primary School 205 33 16.1 
			 116924 885 3390 Worcester, St. George's Catholic Primary School 205 (4)— (4)— 
			 116925 885 3391 Worcester, St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School 208 12 5.8 
			 134707 885 3394 Fairfield Community Primary School 105 35 33.3 
			 116977 885 4431 Elgar Technology College 955 211 22.1 
			 116978 885 4432 Christopher Whitehead High School 1,151 157 13.6 
			 116979 885 4434 Worcester, Nunnery Wood High School 1,346 106 7.9 
			 116993 885 4754 Bishop Perowne C of E High School 1,046 64 6.1 
			 116999 885 5402 Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College 1,048 63 6.0 
			 (1) Includes pupils with sole and dual registration of all ages.  (2) Includes pupils with sole and dual registration who are full-time and aged 0 to 15 (inclusive) and those who are part-time and aged five to 15 (inclusive).  (3) Number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the census in January.  (4) Less than three or a rate based on less than three.

Head Teachers

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools do not have a permanent head teacher.

Jim Knight: Information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on the number of full-time temporary filled head teacher posts is available from the annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies held in January each year. Table 9 of Statistical First Release 18/2006 provides a snapshot of temporarily filled head teacher posts as at January for each year available. This publication is available on the Department's website at the following URL: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000653/index.shtml. A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Learning and Skills Council

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the basis was for the calculation of the estimated £40 million savings from the re-organisation of the Learning and Skills Council; whether the calculation was made  (a) before and  (b) after a decision had been reached on staff numbers and structures; and how much of the estimated saving was savings on (i) staff costs and (ii) administrative costs.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 11 May 2006
	On 16 September 2005 Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive, announced proposals for a new structure for the organisation with the aim of making it more effective at identifying and responding to local learning and skills needs, and to achieve a less bureaucratic and more strategic relationship with partners and providers. It means that the LSC will spend less time on transactional processes and more time developing relationships with key partners and stakeholders. This requires fewer staff with a different set of skills. The calculation of savings of up to £40 million, which could be released for the benefit of learners, was based on these priorities and a structure that will require some 1,100 fewer posts. The savings include staffing, property and related costs. Due to the complexities involved in the restructuring the level of savings may change.

School Sport

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the £750 million pledged for school sport at the 2000 Labour Party Conference has been spent.

Jim Knight: holding answer 11 May 2006
	All of the New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) funding is now fully committed, to over 2,000 projects. To date, £341,370,187 has been drawn down by local authorities.

School Statistics

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children are educated in private schools in each local authority area.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Independent schools: number and percentage of pupils January 2006 (provisional)( 1) —by local authority 
			Number of pupils in independent schools  Percentage of pupils in independent schools( 2) 
			   England(3) 563,780 6.9 
			 
			   North East(3) 12,980 3.1 
			 841 Darlington 706 4.3 
			 840 Durham 2,066 2.6 
			 390 Gateshead 727 2.4 
			 805 Hartlepool 0 0.0 
			 806 Middlesbrough 26 0.1 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 4,772 11.3 
			 392 North Tyneside 1,019 3.2 
			 929 Northumberland 604 1.2 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 0 0.0 
			 393 South Tyneside 0 0.0 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 1,822 5.7 
			 394 Sunderland 1,236 2.7 
			 
			   North West(3) 56,160 4.9 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 2,817 10.0 
			 890 Blackpool 1,140 5.2 
			 350 Bolton 3,140 6.4 
			 351 Bury 4,203 13.0 
			 875 Cheshire 8,376 7.5 
			 909 Cumbria 3,378 4.2 
			 876 Halton 11 0.1 
			 340 Knowsley 21 0.1 
			 888 Lancashire 6,802 3.8 
			 341 Liverpool 2,378 3.2 
			 352 Manchester 6,490 8.9 
			 353 Oldham 1,573 3.8 
			 354 Rochdale 388 1.1 
			 355 Salford 1,946 5.7 
			 343 Sefton 3,318 6.9 
			 342 St. Helens 742 2.6 
			 356 Stockport 4,773 10.4 
			 357 Tameside 229 0.6 
			 358 Trafford 2,094 5.5 
			 877 Warrington 7 0.0 
			 359 Wigan 0 0.0 
			 344 Wirral 2,335 4.3 
			 
			   Yorkshire and the Humber(3) 32,990 3.9 
			 370 Barnsley 225 0.6 
			 380 Bradford 3,623 3.9 
			 381 Calderdale 1,419 3.9 
			 371 Doncaster 591 1.2 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,815 3.5 
			 810 Kingston upon Hull, City of 1,119 2.8 
			 382 Kirklees 1,881 2.9 
			 383 Leeds 5,054 4.4 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 435 1.7 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 223 0.9 
			 815 North Yorkshire 6,628 7.0 
			 372 Rotherham 261 0.6 
			 373 Sheffield 2,866 3.7 
			 384 Wakefield 4,387 7.8 
			 816 York 2,460 9.3 
			 
			   East Midlands(3) 33,490 4.8 
			 831 Derby 1,231 3.0 
			 830 Derbyshire 4,597 3.9 
			 856 Leicester 3,206 6.4 
			 855 Leicestershire 5,318 5.3 
			 925 Lincolnshire 4,577 4.2 
			 928 Northamptonshire 6,096 5.4 
			 892 Nottingham 3,313 7.8 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 2,995 2.4 
			 857 Rutland 2,161 30.4 
			 
			   West Midlands( 3) 43,420 4.8 
			 330 Birmingham 7,661 4.2 
			 331 Coventry 3,014 5.8 
			 332 Dudley 257 0.5 
			 884 Herefordshire 2,016 7.9 
			 333 Sandwell 14 0.0 
			 893 Shropshire 4,974 11.0 
			 334 Solihull 2,032 5.2 
			 860 Staffordshire 4,518 3.4 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent 120 0.3 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 829 2.9 
			 335 Walsall 1,010 2.0 
			 937 Warwickshire 6,766 8.1 
			 336 Wolverhampton 1,794 4.2 
			 885 Worcestershire 8,417 9.5 
			 
			   East of England(3) 62,650 6.9 
			 820 Bedfordshire 5,687 8.1 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 8,219 9.5 
			 881 Essex 10,678 5.1 
			 919 Hertfordshire 20,943 10.6 
			 821 Luton 713 2.2 
			 926 Norfolk 6,387 5.3 
			 874 Peterborough 380 1.3 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 1,357 4.8 
			 935 Suffolk 8,287 7.6 
			 883 Thurrock 0 0.0 
			 
			   London( 3) 120,390 10.0 
			   Inner London(3) 57,610 13.4 
			 202 Camden 7,266 25.0 
			 201 City of London 1,903 89.2 
			 204 Hackney 3,962 13.1 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,180 23.0 
			 309 Haringey 2,154 5.9 
			 206 Islington 588 2.5 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 10,604 49.2 
			 208 Lambeth 2,083 6.6 
			 209 Lewisham 1,873 5.0 
			 316 Newham 535 1.1 
			 210 Southward 5,130 12.2 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 906 2.3 
			 212 Wandsworth 8,202 21.5 
			 213 Westminster 7,227 26.7 
			 
			   Outer London(3) 62,780 8.1 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 0 0.0 
			 302 Barnet 6,416 11.9 
			 303 Bexley 732 1.8 
			 304 Brent 1,651 3.8 
			 305 Bromley 4,515 8.8 
			 306 Croydon 6,859 11.8 
			 307 Ealing 5,121 10.6 
			 308 Enfield 1,519 3.0 
			 203 Greenwich 3,032 7.5 
			 310 Harrow 4,995 14.7 
			 311 Havering 886 2.4 
			 312 Hillingdon 3,703 7.9 
			 313 Hounslow 976 2.6 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 3,576 14.2 
			 315 Merton 3,283 12.1 
			 317 Redbridge 3,833 7.8 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 8,401 29.2 
			 319 Sutton 1,543 4.7 
			 320 Waltham Forest 1,740 4.5 
			 
			   South East(3) 142,460 10.9 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 2,659 14.9 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 4,002 11.7 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 8,672 10.2 
			 845 East Sussex 7,107 9.7 
			 850 Hampshire 15,886 8.4 
			 921 Isle of Wight 770 3.8 
			 886 Kent 17,461 7.5 
			 887 Medway 1,533 3.4 
			 826 Milton Keynes 1,130 3.0 
			 931 Oxfordshire 15,383 15.2 
			 851 Portsmouth 3,279 11.8 
			 870 Reading 2,850 14.4 
			 871 Slough 765 3.5 
			 852 Southampton 1,750 5.9 
			 936 Surrey 37,411 21.1 
			 869 West Berkshire 3,054 10.9 
			 938 West Sussex 11,303 9.7 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 4,491 18.9 
			 872 Wokingham 2,956 11.2 
			 
			   South West(3) 59,230 7.6 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 4,314 14.7 
			 837 Bournemouth 1,506 6.8 
			 801 Bristol, City of 8,578 15.1 
			 908 Cornwall 2,740 3.6 
			 878 Devon 8,284 7.8 
			 835 Dorset 5,004 8.3 
			 916 Gloucestershire 8,317 8.9 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 0 0.0 
			 802 North Somerset 1,012 3.5 
			 879 Plymouth 1,242 3.1 
			 836 Poole 730 3.6 
			 933 Somerset 9,268 11.6 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 575 1.4 
			 866 Swindon 65 0.2 
			 880 Torbay 766 3.8 
			 865 Wiltshire 6,828 9.4 
			 (1) Figures are based on survey returns from around 94 per cent. of independent schools. No estimation has been made for those survey returns that are outstanding.  (2) Number of pupils in independent schools expressed as a percentage of pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, all special schools, pupil referral units, city technology colleges, academies, direct grant nurseries and independent schools.  (3) National and regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and constituent parts.   Source:  Annual Schools Census

Specialist Schools

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 May 2005,  Official Report, column 1764W, on specialist schools, if he will list the 45 specialist schools who select by aptitude; and what the specialism is of each.

Jim Knight: holding answer 11 May 2006
	The following table shows the names of the 45 specialist schools that select by aptitude and the specialism of each. These data were accurate as of the 1 September 2001; the Department no longer collects these data.
	
		
			  Specialism  School  Local authority 
			 Arts (Perf) Brentwood Ursuline Convent School Essex 
			 Arts (Visual) Chestnut Grove School Wandsworth 
			 Arts (Perf) Eastwood School (The) Southend on Sea 
			 Arts (Perf) Intake High School Leeds 
			 Arts (Perf) Latimer Community Arts College Northamptonshire 
			 Arts (Perf) North Kesteven School Lincolnshire 
			 Arts Springwood Norfolk 
			 Arts St. Benedict City of Derby 
			 Arts (Perf) St. Marylebone School (The) Westminster 
			 Arts (Perf) Stantonbury Campus North Milton Keynes 
			 Language Bohunt School Hampshire 
			 Language Goffs Hertfordshire 
			 Language Hendon School Barnet, LB of 
			 Language Hockerill Anglo European Sch Hertfordshire 
			 Language Kings Norton Girls Birmingham 
			 Language Montsaye Northamptonshire 
			 Language Robert Pattinson School Lincolnshire 
			 Sports Oldfield School Bath and NE Somerset 
			 Sports Southfields Community College Wandsworth, LB of 
			 Sports The Deanes Essex 
			 Sports Whitefield School Barnet, LB of 
			 Technology Archbishop Blanch School Liverpool 
			 Technology. Archbishop Temple School Lancashire 
			 Technology Budmouth Technology College Dorset 
			 Technology Bushey Meads Hertfordshire 
			 Technology Central School (The) Lincolnshire 
			 Technology Chaucer Technology School Kent 
			 Technology Cornwallis School Kent 
			 Technology Deacon's School Peterborough 
			 Technology Denbigh School Milton Keynes 
			 Technology George Spencer GM School Nottinghamshire 
			 Technology Glyn Technology School Surrey 
			 Technology Heathside School Surrey 
			 Technology Lodge Park School Northamptonshire 
			 Technology Lynn Grove VA High School Norfolk 
			 Technology Mill Hill County High School Barnet, LB of 
			 Technology Monks' Dyke Technology College Lincolnshire 
			 Technology Moseley Park School Wolverhampton 
			 Technology Ninestiles School Birmingham 
			 Technology Philip Morant School Essex 
			 Technology Princes Risborough School Buckinghamshire 
			 Technology Sandwich Technology School Kent 
			 Technology Small Heath School Birmingham 
			 Technology St. Margaret's C of E High School Liverpool 
			 Technology St. Martin's School Essex

HEALTH

Addictions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people with  (a) a gambling addiction,  (b) an alcohol addiction and  (c) a drug addiction in each region in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The Department's current estimate is that 0.6 per cent. of the adult population are problem gamblers. This figure is drawn from the most recent authoritative research: Kerry Sproston, Bob Erens and Jim Orford (2000): "Gambling Behaviour in Britain: Results from the British Gambling Prevalence Study" (National Centre for Social Research, June 2000). This research was conducted using a sample of addresses selected at random. It is not possible therefore to give figures by region.
	During the coming year, and before the Gambling Act 2005 is implemented, the Gambling Commission will be conducting new research into the prevalence of problem gambling.
	The Department's 2004 alcohol needs assessment research project (ANARP) is the first alcohol needs assessment in England conducted on a national scale, and reports there are 1.1 million people in England who meet the criteria of alcohol dependence. The regional breakdown is shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Region  Total 
			 North East 83,356 
			 North West 145,054 
			 Yorkshire and Number 163,889 
			 East Midlands 42,656 
			 West Midlands 126,658 
			 East of England 95,808 
			 London 217,429 
			 South East 183,611 
			 South West 95,257 
			 Total for England 1,132,074 
		
	
	The Department does not hold data for the numbers of those with a drug dependency in the format requested but we can provide the following data on the prevalence of drug dependence.
	Data on drug dependence are available from the survey Psychiatric Morbidity Among Adults (aged 16 to 74) Living in Private Households (in Great Britain) carried out in 2000, by the Office for National Statistics.
	The latest data available from the drug survey are shown in table two. The same information is not held for those with a gambling addiction.
	Table two provides the prevalence of drug dependence of adults aged 16 to 74 by NHS regional office area, based on responses to five questions, about drug use in the year prior to interview.
	
		
			  NHS regional areas 
			   Northern and Yorkshire  Trent  West Midlands  North West  Eastern  London 
			  Rates per thousand in past year   
			  Women 
			  Dependence on...  
			 Cannabis 18 4 1 14 24 46 
			 Amphetamines 1 2 — 4 5 — 
			 Cocaine 1 — — 4 — 1 
			 Crack 1 — — — — 2 
			 Ecstasy 5 1 — — 9 2 
			 Heroin/Methadone 1 4 — 3 — — 
			 Tranquillisers 2 2 — 4 3 4 
			 Volatile substances — — — — — — 
			 Cannabis only 17  1 14 16 43 
			 Other drug(s) with or without cannabis dependence 7 10 — 10 12 7 
			 Any drug dependence 24 10 1 25 27 50 
			 Base 528 414 405 559 435 490 
			
			  Men   
			  Dependence on...   
			 Cannabis 31 32 30 68 27 37 
			 Amphetamines 7 — 2 1 1 13 
			 Cocaine — 8 — 13 4 7 
			 Crack — 7 — — 4 2 
			 Ecstasy 3 10 10 12 4 5 
			 Heroin/Methadone 1 2 7 4 — 4 
			 Tranquillisers 1 — — 7 — 4 
			 Volatile substances — — — — — — 
			 Cannabis only 22 27 22 54 23 33 
			 Other drug(s) with or without cannabis dependence 13 12 18 20 19 19 
			 Any drug dependence 34 39 40 74 41 52 
			 Base 430 332 333 427 388 385 
			
			  All Adults   
			  Dependence on...   
			 Cannabis 25 18 16 41 26 41 
			 Amphetamines 4 1 1 3 3 7 
			 Cocaine 1 — 4 2 7 3 
			 Crack 1 — 3 — — 3 
			 Ecstasy 4 6 5 6 7 4 
			 Heroin/Methadone 1 3 3 3 — 2 
			 Tranquillisers 2 1 — 6 1 4 
			 Volatile substances — — — — — — 
			 Cannabis only 19 13 12 34 19 38 
			 Other drug(s) with or without cannabis dependence 10 11 9 15 15 13 
			 Any drug dependence 29 24 21 49 34 51 
			 Base 958 746 738 986 823 875 
		
	
	
		
			   South East  South West  England  Wales  Scotland  All 
			  All Adults   
			  Dependence on...   
			 Cannabis 13 1 16 12 18 16 
			 Amphetamines 2 — 2 3 10 3 
			 Cocaine 1 — 1 — 3 1 
			 Crack — — 0 — 3 1 
			 Ecstasy — — 2 — 13 3 
			 Heroin/Methadone — 1 1 — — 1 
			 Tranquillisers 3 3 3 3 — 2 
			 Volatile substances — — — —   
			 Cannabis only 11 1 14 12 11 14 
			 Other drug(s) with or without cannabis dependence 5 4 7 3 16 7 
			 Any drug dependence 16 5 21 15 27 21 
			 Base 722 432 3,985 213 505 4,703 
			
			  Men   
			  Dependence on...   
			 Cannabis 58 51 43 30 83 46 
			 Amphetamines 8 — 5 — 12 5 
			 Cocaine 2 4 — — 4  
			 Crack — 2 — — 2  
			 Ecstasy 17 9 9 — 10 9 
			 Heroin/Methadone — — 2 — — 2 
			 Tranquillisers 1 — 2 — — 2 
			 Volatile substances — — — — 1 0  
			 Cannabis only 41 39 34 30 72 37 
			 Other drug(s) with or without cannabis dependence 23 11 17 — 22 17 
			
			  Any drug dependence 65 51 51 30 94 54 
			 Base 578 356 3229 194 415 3,838 
			 All Adults 36 25 30 21 50 31 
			 Dependence on... 5 — 3 1 11 4 
			 Cannabis 4 1 3 — 1 2 
			 Amphetamines 1 — 1 — 1 1 
			 Cocaine 9 5 6 — 11 6 
			 Crack — 1 2 — — 1 
			 Ecstasy 2 1 2 1 — 2 
			 Heroin/Methadone — — — — 1 0 
			 Tranquillisers 26 20 24 21 41 25 
			 Volatile substances 14 7 12 1 19 12 
			 Cannabis only 41 27 36 23 60 37 
			 Other drug(s) with or without cannabis dependence 1,300 788 7,214 407 920 8,541

Ambulances

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued on the fitting of emergency vehicles with satellite navigation systems; and what percentage of each NHS ambulance fleet is fitted with such devices.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 May 2006
	In 2001-02, there was a £3.4 million allocation from the Department to enable services to equip frontline ambulance vehicles with state of the art satellite navigation to help ambulances reach life-threatening emergencies more quickly. The Department expects all ambulance trusts to meet the national response time standards set, to ensure patients receive the most appropriate, timely care.
	The Department does not collect central figures on ambulance vehicles fitted with satellite navigation systems.

Autism

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent by the NHS on autism spectrum-related disorders in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what definition of autism is used by her Department;
	(3)  what her Department's latest estimate is of the incidence of autism among  (a) males and  (b) females;
	(4)  how many children have been diagnosed with autism in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information on spend by the national health service on autism spectrum-related disorders is not held centrally.
	For the purposes of statistical collection, the Department defines autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) as including childhood autism, atypical autism, Asperger's syndrome, Rett's syndrome, and other less common ASDs.
	Diagnoses of ASDs within hospitals are available from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), as shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of finished consultant episodes involving a diagnosis of ASDs, by gender at end of episode, England, 2004-05 
			  Gender  2004-05 
			 Male 6,170 
			 Female 2,460 
			 Unknown 0 
			 All diagnoses 9,170 
			  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of finished consultant episodes involving a diagnosis of ASDs, by age at end of episode, England, 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			   16 and Under 
			 2004-05 6,170 
			 2003-04 5,770 
			 2002-03 5,630 
			 2001-02 5,180 
			 2000-01 4,980 
			 1999-2000 4,200 
			 1998-99 4,030 
			 1997-98 3,100 
			  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Bowel Cancer Screening

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to roll out the bowel cancer screening programme since 1 April; how many people have been offered screening since 1 April; how many people will be offered screening by  (a)1 July 2006,  (b) 1 January 2007 and  (c) 1 April 2007; and if she will make a statement'
	(2)  what funding she plans to make available for the bowel cancer screening programme in each of the next five years; and what changes in the funding allocation have been made since the programme was announced.

Rosie Winterton: The national bowel cancer screening programme will be rolled out nationally over the next three years. Funding for the first year of the screening programme is being transferred to the national cancer screening team in Sheffield, and Wolverhampton will be the first local screening centre.
	We estimate that around £10 million will be spent on the first stages of the national bowel cancer screening programme. Funding decisions have not yet been made for future years but we are committed to ensuring that the necessary funding is available to see through the full implementation of the programme.

Bowel Cancer Screening

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to promote public awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms.

Caroline Flint: Research has shown that a national, untargeted campaign will not be as effective as local initiatives targeted on areas where there is a higher risk of people developing cancer, often linked to their lifestyle choices.
	We have learnt from other awareness raising programmes, for example the west of Scotland cancer awareness project, that people at risk can be encouraged to seek medical help if the message is delivered locally, in the most appropriate way for that audience.
	We are working with the healthy communities collaborative and a small number of primary care trusts to pilot different local approaches to raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, using a model developed by the healthy communities collaborative in their programmes to promote healthy diets, and reduce falls. These pilots will run throughout 2006-07.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines her Department provides to British-based airlines on deep vein thrombosis.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not issued any specific guidelines to British-based airlines on deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, in 2001, the Department issued advice and information to the airlines and the public about minimising the risk of DVT during long journeys, which is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/BloodSafety/VTE/fs/en

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontists there are in England, broken down by primary care trust (PCT); and what each PCT annual contract value with orthodontists was as of 1 April 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The number of orthodontists in England is not available centrally as orthodontists are not separately identified within general dental services contracts or personal dental services agreements. The number of dentists claiming fees in relation to 200 or more orthodontic appliances in the year ending 31 March 2006 has been placed in the Library.
	Information on annual contract values for orthodontists is not held centrally.

Dentistry

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent NHS general dental practitioners there were in the East Hull and West Hull primary care trust area in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many NHS dentists were employed by  (a) East Hull and  (b) West Hull primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information on a full-time equivalent basis is not available. Dentists are able to vary the amount of hours they work and to vary their national health service commitment. Many dentists do some private work.
	Numbers of dentists with a general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) contract for the relevant primary care trust (PCT) areas are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS): numbers of dentists within the specified PCTs as at 31 March each year 
			   Eastern Hull PCT  West Hull PCT 
			 1997 18 62 
			 1998 18 59 
			 1999 17 65 
			 2000 27 68 
			 2001 27 72 
			 2002 21 73 
			 2003 23 65 
			 2004 22 66 
			 2005 21 70 
			 2006 17 67 
			  Notes:  1. 2006 data includes all notifications of dentists joining or leaving the GDS or PDS, received by the Business Services Authority, up to 3 April 2006. Figures for the numbers of dentists at specified dates may vary depending upon the notification period, for example, data with a later notification period will include more recent notifications of dentists joining or leaving the GDS or PDS.  2. Dentists consist of principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts have been excluded from the data.  3. The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographic areas. PCT areas have been defined using the Office for National Statistics all fields postcode directory.  4. A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the PCT. Information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists is not centrally available.  5. Data on dentists that work only in private practice are not held centrally.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Business Services Authority

Electrical Fields (Childhood Illness)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of links between overhead power lines and incidences of childhood leukaemia.

Caroline Flint: The Department's radiation protection research programme supports a number of studies investigating the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). A study by Dr. Draper and colleagues on childhood leukaemia and distance from power lines, funded under this programme and published in the  British Medical Journal last year, has added to a large existing body of work in this area (BMJ, volume 330, 4 June 2005).
	The Health Protection Agency's radiation protection division (HPA-RPD) keeps the world-wide research findings on EMF continually under review. In 2004, on the basis of a comprehensive review of the existing body of research to date, the HPA-RPD, previouslythe National Radiological Protection Board, recommended the adoption of new EMF exposure guidelines in this country. In addition, in view of the scientific uncertainties, the HPA recommended the Government
	"consider the need for further precautionary measures"
	in relation to power frequency electromagnetic fields. They have also noted that the majority of elevated magnetic fields are due to variations in the electricity supply and distribution system, the presence of substations and equipment in the home rather than proximity to power lines.
	Practical precautionary measures are currently being considered in detail by a stakeholder advisory group (SAGE) that includes the Government Departments, agencies, electricity industry, specialists and public concern groups. Details of the process can be found on the website at: www.rkpartnership.co.uk/sage.

Electrical Fields (Childhood Illness)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment the Health Protection Agency has made of the effects of exposure to electrical fields on children.

Caroline Flint: The Health Protection Agency's radiation protection division (HPA-RPD) continually monitors the research relating to the potential health effects of electric and magnetic fields. Prior to April 2005, HPA-RPD was the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and as such it undertook a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence relating to possible adverse health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in 2004. This review is available on HPA's website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd15-3.htm.
	It provides the basis of HPA advice on quantitative restrictions on exposure and other measures to avoid adverse effects. It explored evidence on the possibility of variations in sensitivity between different groups in the population including children.
	The preparation of this review was carried out at the request of the Department and has particularly examined the issues of uncertainty in the science and aspects of precaution. In developing this review, NRPB took advice from individual United Kingdom and international scientific experts, and from published comprehensive reviews by expert groups. It sought advice from an ad hoc expert group on weak electric field effects in the body and gave careful consideration to the views expressed in response to a consultation document on its proposed guidelines issued in May 2003.
	Having considered the totality of the scientific evidence in the light of uncertainty and the need for a cautious approach, NRPB recommended that restrictions on exposure to EMFs in the UK should be based on the guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection in 1998.

General Practitioner Premises

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners' premises were above minimum standards on the last date for which figures are available in  (a) England and  (b) each primary care trust.

Rosie Winterton: Primary care trusts and predecessor organisations have responsibility for managing delivery of services provided by general practitioners (GPs), including the adequacy of their practice premises from which to provide services.
	Since 1997, there has been a 60 per cent. increase in investment in GP premises. Part of this was through the NHS Plan targets to refurbish or replace 3,000 GP premises and create 500 primary care centres housing services appropriate to meet the local need by December 2004. These targets were achieved through the replacement or refurbishment of 2,848 GP premises and 510 primary care centres. We expect to see an additional 125 of these primary care centres built by the end of this year and in 2008 the total will standat 750.
	In addition, there are many examples of new premises provided under the NHS Local Finance Investment Trust initiative (NHS LIFT) that fully satisfy minimum standards. The LIFT programme has contributed to this progress and has proven to be a tremendous success. Already some £812 million in private sector and £210 million in public sector funding has been injected into GP premises and community facilities across the country. There are 42 NHS LIFT schemes established with another eight in procurement.
	This has, to date, delivered 68 new buildings open to patients with, on average, a building a week opening during 2006. In addition, we are injecting a further £1 billion national health service capital this year specifically for new buildings and equipment. This money will further improve convenient access to health and social care.
	A subjective assessment by PCTs of the proportion of premises meeting the minimum standards as at 31 March 2005 has been placed in the Library. This 2005 snapshot by PCTs shows that collectively they have judged some GP premises across the country as being below minimum standards. This needs to be set in context. Judgments for some of those standards are subjective which by their very nature may lead to some PCTs reporting higher levels of premises that do not meet minimum standards than other PCTs with similar premises. Being below minimum standards does not mean the buildings are in a dangerous state of repair. Rather, that the premises may not have for example, adequate access to and within premises and WC facilities for disabled patients and staff. Failure to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act requirements is a common reason for PCTs judging buildings as not meeting minimum requirements.
	This is not because of a lack of intent by GPs' practices and their PCTs to provide these facilities but because for example, the building is too small to incorporate them; with a general lack of suitable, alternative locations to develop. These are historic problems for inner city PCTs that predate this Government and arose from difficulty of investing in smaller buildings.

Health Trainers

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 223W, on health trainers, what range of times have been taken by primary care trusts to complete the training scheme for health trainers.

Caroline Flint: Approximately 150 primary care trusts are involved in the health trainer project with wide variations in the ways health trainers are trained for the role. However, most training starts with an initial classroom-based period of between 14 and 35 days, over several weeks, followed by supported learning and skill development in the workplace. This may then be followed by further classroom-based training to allow reflection upon what has worked and provide ongoing training tailored to the individual and local environment.
	The mandatory competences, upon which the health trainer training is based, were signed off in March 2006. The training programmes are still being developed, evaluated and modified according to local requirements. Therefore, it is likely that the current programmes will be revised and the range of times to provide the training could change.

Healthy Living

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take to improve (i) parents' and (ii) children's understanding of the benefits of healthy living; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department is working closely with the Department for Education and Skills to ensure an explicit focus on supporting healthy living through children's centres, healthy schools and extended schools—engaging parents, as well as children, is central to each of these programmes. The child health promotion programme and planned life checks will also have a pivotal role to play in communicating health messages.

Healthy Living

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing her Department's White Paper "Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier".

Caroline Flint: A delivery plan was published in 2005 following publication of "Choosing Health". This sets down plans for delivery against all "Choosing Health" commitments. A progress report will be published shortly to ensure we remain on track to deliver against our 2010 commitments.

Insulin Supplies

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that  (a) diabetes sufferers who are reliant on animal insulin will be guaranteed security of supply and  (b) the monopoly position of Wockhardt UK is not exploited once Novo Nordisk discontinues its supplies at the end of 2007.

Andy Burnham: Wockhardt UK has assured the Department of its commitment to continue the supply of its animal insulin products. It has also given assurance that it will be able to meet any increased demand when Novo Nordisk's products are no longer available.
	Under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, companies are required to seek the Department's agreement for any increases in the prices of branded prescription medicines. These are only granted if the reasons for the application meet the criteria for increases set out in the agreement.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what support her Department gives to those most severely affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis;
	(2)  what criteria were used to determine which primary care trusts received funding to set up specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis services; and under what terms the funding was granted;
	(3)  what commitment primary care trusts (PCTs) have made to continuing to provide funding for specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis services; and what steps her Department plans to take if PCTs do not fulfil that commitment.

Ivan Lewis: Those most severely affected by chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have access to the full range of health and social services support as outlined in the national service framework for long-term conditions (the NSF). This includes:
	Joint health and social care plans that change over time and take other needs into account such as housing, transport, benefits, education, careers advice, employment and leisure;
	Access to a broad range of services including rehabilitation, equipment, accommodation, personal care to help people live as independently as possible at home; and
	Support to help people to work or take up other vocational opportunities.
	Applications for funding from the £8.5 million budget to establish new CFS/ME services were assessed by an investment steering group consisting of health professionals, as well as patient and carer representatives. The criteria used by the steering group included strategy and partnership working, the proposed service organisation and staffing structure, as well as the need to ensure an even geographic distribution of centres.
	National health service organisations are expected to demonstrate that they are making progress towards achieving the level of service quality described in the NSF. The NSF sets out a clear vision of how health and social care organisations can improve the quality, consistency and responsiveness of their services and help improve the lives of people with neurological conditions, including CFS/ME. The Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection may undertake performance reviews to assess progress on local implementation of the NSF.

Meningitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have  (a) been diagnosed with and  (b) died from meningitis in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Notified cases of meningitis are collected by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and published as quarterly and yearly reports.
	These reports are available on the HPA's website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/noids/archive.htm

MMR Vaccination

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her most recent estimate is of the rate of MMR vaccination.

Caroline Flint: The latest annual estimate of mumps, measles and rubella uptake was published in table two of the statistical bulletin NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2004-05 of which a copy is available in the Library. The figure for 2004-05 was 80.9 per cent. Quarterly data are published by the Health Protection Agency in  CDR Weekly and are available at: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/vaccination/vac_cover.htm.

National Blood Service

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Government have conducted of the impact of the closure of the Plymouth unit of the National Blood Service and the transfer of its services to a new super centre at Bristol on  (a) service provision to hospitals throughout the South West Peninsula and  (b) the willingness of residents of Devon and Cornwall to give blood; and what cost/benefit analysis has been carried out of the regionalisation of blood service provision.

Caroline Flint: A key factor in the successful delivery of NHS Blood and Transplant's (NHSBT) activities is implementation of its estate strategy. As part of their estate strategy the National Blood Service (NBS) which is an operating division of NHSBT, has proposed the development of a new site at Bristol.
	The NBS centre in Plymouth will not be closing. However, some services, such as blood processing will transfer from the Plymouth centre to the new Bristol centre. The NBS will continue to provide critical services from the centre in Plymouth. For example, the centre will continue to have a local blood bank to meet orders for blood. This means that deliveries of blood to hospitals serviced by the Plymouth centre, including emergency requests will not be affected by any change. The proposal to build the new centre in the most cost-effective way will consolidate some services into the new site from centres in Plymouth, Southampton and Birmingham.
	It is not expected that the changes will impact on the willingness of donors to come forward and give blood. The NBS will continue to promote the vital role that blood donors play in maintaining the blood supply.

NHS Budgets

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether primary care trusts subject to budget top-slicing in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 will have their contributions repaid in later years.

Rosie Winterton: The new strategic health authorities (SHAs) should take the lead locally in developing and implementing a service and financial strategy for managing the financial position within their locality. For 2006-07, this will include creating local reserves to deal with local problems. The size of the reserves and the contribution from each primary care trust (PCT) will vary according to local circumstances.
	In relation to the reserves, we expect SHAs to maintain the integrity of the allocations system with PCTs entitled to repayment of any contributions over a reasonable period not usually exceeding the three-year allocation cycle.

NHS Budgets

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she is aware of the letter of 24 February from Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) to the chief executives of the SHA's constituent trusts on allocations to primary care trusts, payment by results tariff correction and implications.

Caroline Flint: Responsibility for performance management of the national health service has been delegated to strategic health authorities (SHAs). The relevant SHA responsibilities are set out in "The NHS in England: the Operating Framework for 2006-07". These responsibilities include holding reserves on behalf of primary care trusts.

NHS Budgets

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures she is taking to encourage NHS trusts to balance their budgets; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what initiatives are in place to reward those NHS trusts that operate to balanced budgets; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: All national health service trusts are expected to achieve financial balance, or better, each and every year. However, we recognise this has been a challenging year for NHS organisations, and the NHS as a whole was forecasting a deficit of around £620 million for 2005-06, at month six.
	In 2006-07, the priority will be to restore overall financial balance in the NHS. In order to restore financial balance, the following measures are in place:
	 Strategic health authority (SHA) reserves—From 2006-07, SHAs have the responsibility to develop and implement a service and financial strategy for managing the financial position within their locality. They will develop this with primary care trusts (PCTs) and NHS trusts in their area. Strategies agreed locally may include the creation of local reserves to deal with local problems. The size of the reserves and any contribution from each PCT will vary according to local circumstances, but the underlying principle will be fairness.
	 Turnaround teams—In December 2005, the Secretary of State announced the creation of turnaround teams. These teams visited the NHS bodies identified as facing particular financial difficulties. The teams consisted of external consultants, they reviewed the bodies' financial positions and produced preliminary reports on what action could be taken to assist recovery. The bodies deemed to be at particular risk were required to engage appropriate turnaround support on the ground to help improve efficiency and cut costs. All the bodies are expected to produce plans to allow them to return to financial balance.

Parkinson's Disease

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease there were in  (a) England and (b) Beverley and Holderness in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of people in England with Parkinson's disease are required to pay for prescriptions; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many Parkinson's disease specialist nurses there were in  (a) England and  (b) Beverley and Holderness in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what percentage of people in  (a) England and  (b) Beverley and Holderness diagnosed with Parkinson's disease have access to a specialist nurse; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what percentage of people in England who have Parkinson's disease were referred to a specialist nurse within six months of diagnosis; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Data on the number of those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease are not collected. However, estimates produced by the Parkinson's Disease Society suggest that around 10,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year in the United Kingdom (UK).
	The number of people with Parkinson's disease required to pay prescription charges is not identifiable.
	The number of Parkinson's disease nurse specialists (PDNSs), and the percentage of Parkinson's disease patients with access to such nurse specialists, is not collected centrally.
	The Parkinson's Disease Society reports there are currently over 200 PDNSs in the UK.

Pharmacies

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish detailed proposals on how pharmacies may operate with remote supervision by a pharmacist.

Andy Burnham: Clause 25 of the Health Bill, which is currently before Parliament, makes provision for regulations prescribing the conditions that must be complied with if the preparation, assembly, sale and supply of medicines is to be considered as done under the supervision of a pharmacist, including where the pharmacist is not on the pharmacy premises, that is, remote supervision.
	Subject to passage of the Bill, we intend to consult on the development of these regulations, with all interested parties, in due course. In the meantime, in January 2006, we published an information paper outlining the Government's thinking on this matter and reinforcing our intention to set conditions that will continue to ensure patient safety. This paper is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Post-operative Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many post-operative infections were contracted by patients in each NHS hospital trust in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: Data on all post-operative infections are not available. However, information by trust, for the first year of mandatory orthopaedic surgical site infection surveillance, is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/22/59/04122259.pdf
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/03/22/04130322.pdf

Queen Mary's Hospital Trust, Sidcup

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the treatment refunding basis applicable to Queen Mary's Hospital Trust, Sidcup is; and what percentage this represents of the national tariff.

Caroline Flint: In 2006-07, Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust will be paid by national health service commissioners in England at the 2006-07 payment by results tariff rate for elective, non-elective, out-patient and accident and emergency activity. All other activity will be paid via locally agreed contracts between the trust and its commissioners. Information on what percentage this income represents of the total value of national tariff income is not collected centrally.

Strategic Health Authority for London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the names are of the  (a) chair,  (b) chief executive and  (c) members of the new strategic health authority for London.

Andy Burnham: I am pleased to confirm that the new strategic health authority (SHA) chair is Dr. George Greener OBE and the chief executive is David Nicholson CBE.
	These appointments will commence when the new SHAs come into effect from 1 July.
	The additional non-executive appointments have yet to be made. I will arrange for these details be sent to my hon. Friend once they are confirmed.

TREASURY

Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the email sent on 30 March 2006 by Sarah Bowron, a constituent of the hon. Member for North-East Milton Keynes.

Stephen Timms: A reply was emailed to Ms Bowron on 20 April, and a copy was sent to her alternative email address on 10 May.

Earnings

Eric Martlew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings were of full-time employees in  (a) Carlisle,  (b) Eden,  (c) Allerdale,  (d) Copeland,  (e) Barrow and  (f) South Lakes district council areas based on the annual survey of hours and earnings in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked her to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what the average earnings of full-time employees in  (a) Carlisle,  (b) Eden,  (c) Allerdale,  (d) Copeland,  (e) Barrow-In-Furness and  (f) South Lakeland was in each year since 1997. (70154)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach tables showing Average Gross Weekly Earnings by place of work for the years 1997 to 2005 for Full Time Employees on Adult Rates. These statistics are already published on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=13101.
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		
			  Gross weekly(£) pay for full-time employee jobs( 1)  by place of work 
			   Median  Mean 
			  Carlisle   
			 1997 *283 324 
			 1998 *283 326 
			 1999 284 345 
			 2000 *308 348 
			 2001 321 363 
			 2002 *335 374 
			 2003 *337 *410 
			 2004 *362 402 
			 2004(2) *353 399 
			 2005 *396 435 
			
			  Eden   
			 1997 **256 *306 
			 1998 **249 *279 
			 1999 *238 *301 
			 2000 *258 *322 
			 2001 *275 *331 
			 2002 **327 *368 
			 2003 **323 *383 
			 2004 **340 *380 
			 2004(2) **345 *374 
			 2005 *407 *470 
			
			  Allerdale   
			 1997 **287 331 
			 1998 *293 322 
			 1999 *310 341 
			 2000 *308 344 
			 2001 *349 372 
			 2002 *340 *377 
			 2003 *346 *398 
			 2004 *327 *372 
			 2004(2) *326 *369 
			 2005 **346 406 
			
			  Copeland   
			 1997 *391 419 
			 1998 *414 429 
			 1999 *421 458 
			 2000 *497 496 
			 2001 *479 482 
			 2002 503 511 
			 2003 *495 517 
			 2004 *524 541 
			 2004(2) *526 544 
			 2005 *529 537 
			
			  Barrow-In-Furness   
			 1997 **304 *317 
			 1998 *327 348 
			 1999 **356 386 
			 2000 **318 *369 
			 2001 *398 393 
			 2002 **346 *409 
			 2003 *352 *421 
			 2004 **405 *451 
			 2004(2) **390 *451 
			 2005 *402 *441 
			
			  South Lakeland   
			 1997 *312 * 357 
			 1998 *295 * 351 
			 1999 *307 356 
			 2000 *322 367 
			 2001 *316 372 
			 2002 *346 *392 
			 2003 *355 408 
			 2004 *370 *410 
			 2004(2) *366 *404 
			 2005 *369 *435 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence  (2) Includes Supplementary survey data   Guide to quality:  The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.  The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent., we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.   Key:  CV <= 5 per cent.  * CV >5 per cent. and < = 10 per cent.  ** CV > 10 per cent. and < = 20 per cent.  The median replaces the mean as the headline statistic. The weighted mean is the sum of the weighted values divided by the sum of the weights. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.   Source:  Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Immigration (EU Accession Countries)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has evaluated on the impact on employment levels in the UK of immigration from EU accession countries since May 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: It is widely believed that net inward migration makes a positive contribution to growth of the UK labour force and employment. With respect to the labour market, since May 2004 employment levels in the UK have risen to record highs, in part due to the expansion of the work force from immigration.
	A paper entitled 'The Impact of Free Movement of Workers from Central and Eastern Europe on the UK Labour Market' (2006) published by the Department for Work and Pensions, suggests that the impact of migration from the new EU member states has been broadly positive, reflecting the flexibility and speed of adjustment of the UK labour market. The authors also found no discernible statistical evidence supporting the view that the inflow of A8 migrants is contributing to a rise in claimant unemployment in the UK.

Immigration (EU Accession Countries)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effect on public expenditure in  (a) the Eastern Region and  (b) the East Midlands Region of immigration from EU accession countries since May 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Evidence from the most recent Home Office Accession Monitoring Report (February 2006) suggests that nationals from the Accession 8 countries continue to come to the UK to work, contributing to the success of the UK economy, while making very few demands of our welfare system or public services. Overall migrants make a net fiscal contribution to the UK. In many cases, Accession workers are supporting the provision of public services in communities across the UK.
	The Report finds that numbers applying for tax-funded income-related benefits, child benefit, tax credits and housing support remain very low. Only 3,270 applications for income support and jobseeker's allowance were received from Accession 8 migrants between May 2004 and December 2005, less than 1 per cent. of the total number of Workers Registration Scheme applicants in that period. Of these, only 195 were allowed to proceed for further consideration. The East Midlands region received 5.7 per cent. of these applications and the East of England received 7.9 per cent.

Iraq

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have committed to military operations and peace-keeping in Iraq since 1 January 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 26 January 2006,  Official Report, columns 2260-61W, which provides the net additional costs of current operations in Iraq from financial years 2002-03 to 2004-05.
	An estimated cost for operations in Iraq for 2005-06 of 1,098 million was included in the Ministry of Defence's Spring Supplementary Estimate published in February of this year. Final figures will be published in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts for 2005-06 following audit by the National Audit Office.
	Prior to commencing current operations in Iraq in March 2003, MOD also incurred expenditure enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Iraq. The costs recorded in the MOD's Annual Accounts for these activities were as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   million 
			 1999-2000 28 
			 2000-01 25 
			 2001-02 61

National Youth Volunteering Service

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met Rod Aldridge to discuss the National Youth Volunteering Service.

Edward Balls: I understand that the Chancellor has not met Rod Aldridge.

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of public sector pensions as a share of gross domestic product in each year from 2005 to 2050; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The latest estimate of the projected cost of unfunded public service pensions as a share of gross domestic product is set out in Table 5.1, which sets out the projections at 10 year intervals, of the 2005 Long Term Public Finance Report published with the pre-Budget report on 5 December 2005.

Standard Life

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what monitoring  (a) his Department and  (b) the Financial Services Authority is undertaking of the Standard Life ballot on de-mutualisation.

Ivan Lewis: Neither the Treasury nor the FSA has a role in the Standard Life ballot on de-mutualisation.

Trade Statistics

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK's balance of trade was in  (a) services and  (b) non-service industries in each of the last eight years; and what assessment he has made of the trends over this period.

Edward Balls: The Office for National Statistics publishes trade in goods (non-services) and services data in their monthly UK trade release (http://www.statistics.gov.Uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1119). The UK has been running a trade in services surplus over the past few years, peaking at 1.8 per cent. of GDP in 2004 (a record high) before dipping slightly in 2005. The lower surplus in 2005 likely reflected the short-term effects on tourism following the 7 July terrorist atrocities in central London and insurance claims arising from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
	Though the UK's trade in goods balance was in deficit in 2005, export and import volumes continued to grow. Volumes of goods exports rose by 7.9 per cent. in 2005, while goods imports rose by 6.1 per cent.
	The current account deficit (which includes income and transfers as well as trade in goods and services) stood at 2.6 per cent. of GDP in 2005, is readily financeable and remains modest compared to historical peaks. The current account deficit last peaked at 5.1 per cent. of GDP in 1989.

Unleaded Petrol

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in revenue to his Department would be if the price of unleaded petrol were  (a) increased and  (b) decreased by (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five pence; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The overall impact of road fuel prices on tax revenues and the public finances is complex as they will increase some tax revenues and Government expenditures while decreasing others, depending on their wider impact on the economy in general. Reliable estimates of the impact of changes in prices are not available.

DEFENCE

Defence Information Initiative

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the revised delivery plan for the Defence Information Initiative will enable the achievement of the original estimated savings of  (a) 170 million within three years and  (b) 43 million within one year.

Tom Watson: The Ministry of Defence expects that 43 million input efficiencies and cost avoidance measures will be achieved in 2005-06. This will be confirmed after the formal end of the financial year at the end of May 2006.
	We further expect that 170 million input efficiencies and cost avoidance measures will be achieved in the next three years.

Departmental Credit Cards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facility is available for senior civil servants in his Department to use credit cards supplied by the Department.

Tom Watson: There is no facility available in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for senior civil servants to use credit cards. However, the MOD does make use of the Government Procurement Card (GPC). The GPC is a VISA purchasing card where the account is settled in full by the MOD each month. As it is a charge card it does not attract any interest charges. The GPC is available to all staff having a business need, through specific delegations and controls to obtain goods and services on behalf of the MOD.

Royal Ordnance Bishopton

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what type of hazardous materials and chemicals were held within the grounds of Royal Ordnance Bishopton prior to its sale in 1987; how they were disposed of; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what decontamination operations were conducted by  (a) his Department prior to 1987 and  (b) BAE Systems after 1987 within the grounds of Royal Ordnance Bishopton; what the cost of each operation was; what materials were (i) recovered and (ii) processed; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment his Department made prior to the 1987 sale of Royal Ordnance Bishopton of  (a) the presence of hazardous materials and chemicals on the site and  (b) the likely cost of decontamination; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: Any information held has been archived and given the time that has elapsed since the disposal, it will take some time to ascertain what records have survived. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the material is to hand and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Algeria

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of reports of the use of detention and torture in Algeria.

Kim Howells: I am pleased that Amnesty International's memorandum to the Algerian President of 13 April 2006 highlights that, despite Amnesty International's continuing concerns about the use of detention and torture in Algeria, there have been fewer allegations of torture in police custody, and progress has been made on strengthening safeguards to protect detainees.

Brazil

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of Brazil's decision to enrich uranium on other countries' attempts to acquire such technology; and whether the Government were informed of this development.

Kim Howells: Brazilian development of its uranium enrichment facility at Resende has at all times been carried out in compliance with its safeguards obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has been known to the international community. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that it has adequate monitoring measures in place. There is no reason why Brazilian inauguration of the facility should influence any other country's policy in this area.
	The Brazilian Government have publicly abandoned the nuclear weapons programme pursued by previous military Governments and the development of nuclear weapons is prohibited under the country's constitution. There have been no indications that Brazil has attempted to break its obligations under the NPT. Any State party to the NPT has a right to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Article II of the Treaty.

Constitution for Europe

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposed revision of the Constitution for Europe.

Geoff Hoon: No formal proposals for revision of the EU Constitutional Treaty have been tabled. However, a number of ideas have been expressed across the EU on possible alternatives to the Treaty over the last 11 months. There is no point in speculating on abstract possibilities. The Government believe the EU should continue to focus on economic reform and tackling the challenges of globalisation, the agenda set out at the Hampton Court Summit during our Presidency.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce the flow of arms to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kim Howells: The UN imposed an arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2003 and later agreed to impose sanctions on violators of this embargo. The UK also supported action at the Security Council on 1 November 2005 to impose travel bans and asset freezes on 16 known violators of the embargo.
	The UK continues to press the Governments of the region to co-operate more fully with the Group of Experts (which monitors the arms embargo), particularly in its efforts to discover the origins of arms found in the country. The UK further supported UN Security Council Resolution 1649 on 21 December 2005, providing for targeted sanctions against leaders of illegal armed groups.

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Ethiopia on  (a) the use of the death penalty,  (b) conducting trials in accordance with international and regional standards and  (c) observing international standards on freedom of expression.

Ian McCartney: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers have not discussed the death penalty with the Government of Ethiopia recently.
	The FCO has financed an international jurist, Michael Ellman, to observe the trial. He has now been officially recognised by the Ethiopian Government as the EU international observer.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) met the Ethiopian Prime Minister on 18 January and raised the importance of the Ethiopian courts dealing with all charges fairly, quickly and transparently in accordance with international standards. Our ambassador in Addis Ababa reiterated this message to the Prime Minister on 25 April 2006.
	We regularly raise our concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and the detention of journalists.

EU Accession

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the timetable for the accession of  (a) Bulgaria and  (b) Romania to the European Union.

Geoff Hoon: Romania and Bulgaria are scheduled to join the European Union on 1 January 2007. The European Commission will publish a report on Bulgarian and Romanian preparations for accession on 16 May. We expect this report to recommend whether Romanian and Bulgarian accession should go ahead in 2007 as planned, or whether further progress is required. This might require delaying accession until 2008, as provided for by the Accession Treaty. The Presidency have included Romanian and Bulgarian accession on the agenda of the European Council on 15 June.

European Parliament (Strasbourg)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is her Department's policy to support the current practice of the European Parliament sitting in Strasbourg.

Geoff Hoon: The Government, and many Members of the European Parliament, agree that the splitting of the European Parliament site is far from ideal. However, there is a legal and historical basis for the sitting. At the Edinburgh Council in 1992, member states adopted a decision that designated the European Parliament's seat as Strasbourg and committed the European Parliament to holding 12 plenary sessions a year there. Any change to the status quo would need the unanimous support of the 25 member states. Unfortunately, we do not think such unanimity is likely in the foreseeable future.

Failed States (Africa)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by her Department to tackle the indicators of state fragility and failure in Africa identified in the failed states Index 2006.

Ian McCartney: One of the major priorities of the year of Africa and a key aim of the commitments from the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, was to address state fragility and failure in Africa.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is working closely with the Department for International Development (DFID) and other Government Departments to help create the conditions in which African countries can end conflict, improve governance and achieve their development goals. Through bilateral dialogue and working through the European Union and other international bodies, we are calling for more accountable governance and better human rights standards. We are also helping build greater capacity in national and regional bodies to prevent conflict and instability by providing training and technical support to African nations, the African Union and Sub Regional Organisations. Funding through the joint FCO, DFID, Ministry of Defence Africa Conflict Prevention Pool helps underpin this work.

G8 Summit

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her strategy is for ensuring that the G8 Summit in July will include a substantive discussion on Belarus.

Geoff Hoon: In the run up to the St. Petersburg Summit, the UK is working with G8 partners at all levels to ensure that discussions reflect the core democratic values shared by all members of the G8.

Iran

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to prevent the persecution of religious minorities in Iran, with particular reference to those of the Bah'i faith.

Kim Howells: We continue to have serious concerns about the situation of religious minorities in Iran. We have received numerous reports of discrimination against those wishing to practise minority faiths, including the Bah'i community.
	Ministers and officials have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to address the intimidation and discrimination suffered by the Iranian Bah'is. At our suggestion, the EU Presidency did so on 31 January and again on 11 April. On 10 April, EU Foreign Ministers underlined their
	continued concerns about the human rights situation in Iran, in particular regarding the situation of Bah'is.
	We have also taken action at the UN. We were pleased that all EU countries co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution on human rights in Iran in December last year. This expressed serious concern at, inter alia, the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Bah'i, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits. We expect Iran to uphold freedom of religion and belief in accordance with its international obligations under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Kidnapping

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it remains Government policy  (a) not to pay ransoms for kidnapped UK citizens and  (b) not to co-operate with organisations paying such ransoms.

Kim Howells: It remains Government policy not to pay ransoms for UK nationals kidnapped overseas. The Government discourage the payment of ransoms by others and would not facilitate any such payments.

Lebanon

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has received about Iranian involvement in Lebanon; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials have regular discussions concerning Lebanon and foreign links to groups operating in Lebanon. We believe that Iran funds and has strong connections to Lebanese Hizballah. All members of the international community, including Iran and Syria, must co-operate fully with the Government of Lebanon, the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General to achieve full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1559.

Muslim Brotherhood

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood and its official organisations since September 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: British officials have had contact with members of the Egyptian Parliament, including occasional contact with members of the Muslim Brotherhood since September 2001. Officials have also met representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon. In addition, officials have had limited contact with members of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, whose leadership is in exile in London.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the United Nations accepting a mediation role in Nepal; and what representations she has made on this matter.

Kim Howells: The responsibility for resolving Nepal's conflict ultimately lies with the people of Nepal, who need to take responsibility for, and ownership of, any peace settlement. But it is clear to us that a lasting solution to Nepal's problems will need the active support of the international community and the assistance of an independent and credible external partner.
	We are exploring with the Government of Nepal, and with our international partners, whether and how such a third party role might be helpful, and what its mandate should be. One candidate might indeed be the UN and the UN Secretary-General has made several welcome offers of his good offices. The UN is seen as a credible partner in Nepal; the UN's Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights mission there has proved successful. If all the parties concerned, including our international partners, were to agree on a viable UN role, then the benefits could be significant. But it will still require political will on all sides to make this work and the UN is not the only organisation that could provide such assistance. If external facilitation is agreed there will most likely be financial implications in terms of arranging this. However it is too early to judge what these will be.
	We are at present discussing how to take this forward with our international partners.

Nigeria

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the US and British embassies in Nigeria on the proposed constitutional amendment by President Obasanjo to remove the limit of two presidential terms.

Ian McCartney: Our high commission in Abuja regularly discuss issues of common concern with their US and EU counterparts including the internal political situation. The UK's position on constitutional change is that, done fairly and transparently, it is a matter for Nigeria.

Organ Harvesting (China)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what documents  (a) she and  (b) her officials have received on organ harvesting in China; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Government have received media reports of large-scale organ harvesting in China, including among Falun Gong adherents. We have found no evidence to substantiate these reports. The Chinese Government have denied such allegations. We have also received correspondence from hon. Members, non-governmental organisations and members of the public expressing their concerns about organ harvesting. The Government are concerned about the practice of prisoners subject to the death penalty in China donating their organs and my hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade (Ian Pearson) raised these concerns with the Chinese Government on 7 April. We believe the right approach is to seek to overcome the social taboo of organ transplants in China and encourage donation from the general population. The Government welcome the announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Health of a new regulation to come into effect on 1 July, to ban the sale of organs and introduce medical standards for organ transplants.

Organ Harvesting (China)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Chinese authorities about the allegations of  (a) organ harvesting and  (b) the use of organs from executed prisoners in China.

Ian McCartney: My hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Trade (Ian Pearson) raised the Government's concerns about the use of organs from executed prisoners with the Chinese Government on7 April. The Chinese Government have acknowledged the practice of organ harvesting from executed prisoners. Despite Chinese Government assurances that prisoners agree to the donations voluntarily and that, in some cases, their families are paid, we are concerned about the use of these prisoners' organs. The Government welcome the announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Health of a new regulation to come into effect on 1 July, to ban the sale of organs and introduce medical standards for organ transplants. We have received no evidence to substantiate recent media reports of large scale organ harvesting in China. The Chinese Government have denied such allegations.

People Trafficking

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to the UN report Trafficking in persons: global patterns; and what steps are being taken by her Department to tackle people trafficking.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is not required to respond to this report. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) funds the delivery, including by non-governmental organisations, of project work designed to enhance the ability of source and transit countries to identify and dissuade potential victims of trafficking to assist in their return. Projects address issues such as increasing awareness levels among victims and practitioners, methods of victim identification, reintegration assistance for returnees and training for judicial, law enforcement and immigration staff. The FCO, as part of the draft UK Action Plan on Trafficking, is also devising a strategy to publicise overseas the successful prosecution in British courts of human traffickers.

Sudan

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government have  (a) spent and  (b) committed to spend on conflict resolution and peace-keeping efforts in Darfur, Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The UK has committed 20 million this financial year to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). This brings our total contribution to AMIS, since its inception, to 52 million. 27 million has been spent providing 900 vehicles, airlift of African Union (AU) troops, rapid deployment kits and ground fuel. We have also provided experts including military logisticians, Military Observers and Civilian Police Trainers. On 10 March, the AU's Peace and Security Council agreed to support in principle a handover of their mission in Darfur to the UN, and we have provided a military and police planner to the UN planning team. This year's budget of 20 million will be used to fund the AU's ground fuel contract and experts, as well as a continued contribution of military and police experts, additional airlift of troops and we may also provide budgetary support to the AU's Peace Fund to enable the AU to pay for vital services.
	The UK has also committed 1.25 million to the AU Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur, of which over 700,000 has been spent so far. This has been used to fund technical experts for the security arrangements, negotiations and financial assistance to support the running of talks in Abuja, Nigeria. We welcome the signature of the Darfur Peace Agreement by the Government of Sudan and the largest faction of the Sudanese Liberation Movement rebel group, Minni Minnawi, following efforts by the UK and others to agree a deal between the parties.

Uganda

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her assessment is of the statements by the Ugandan authorities that the President of the Forum for Democratic Change is associated with the Lord's Resistance Army; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We have seen no evidence from the Ugandan authorities that the Forum for Democratic Change President, Dr. Kizza Besigye, is associated with the Lord's Resistance Army. This issue is currently the subject of legal proceedings in Uganda where Dr. Besigye has been charged with treason. Dr. Besigye has strenuously denied any links to the rebel group.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance is issued to magistrates on the publication of the name and photographs in local media of juveniles upon whom antisocial behaviour orders have been served.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Studies Board has published a guidance document relating to publicity in magistrates court proceedings entitled 'Reporting Restrictions: Magistrates Courts'. The document sets out the legislative, case law and procedural considerations to which magistrates should have regard when considering publicity issues in the context of antisocial behaviour order hearings. This guidance sets up the approach the courts should take in respect of the naming and publication of photographs of juveniles.
	All magistrates are issued with a copy of the Adult Court Bench Book, which contains the Checklist Reporting RestrictionsA Structured Approach. In addition, all youth court magistrates are issued with a copy of the Youth Court Bench Book which contains a similar checklist with information relating to youths, and a specific checklist on dealing with antisocial behaviour orders.
	All magistrates sit in court with a qualified legal adviser who is able to provide them with advice on relevant legislation, guidance and case law.

Social Services Abuse

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Legal Services Commission last funded an alleged victim of abuse by social services to bring their case to court; and how many cases funded by the Legal Services Commission relating to abuse by social services failed to reach court in each of the last five years.

Vera Baird: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Initiatives

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the departmental initiatives for each year since 2000 which required bids for funding from  (a) voluntary organisations and  (b) local authorities together with the total resource allocated to each initiative in each year; how many successful bids there were in each year; what proportion this figure represents of the total bids received; and what assessment she has made of the costs of (i) preparing bids for each initiative and (ii) assessing those bids.

David Lammy: Most DCMS funding available to local authorities or voluntary sector bodies is distributed by the Department's public bodies. For example, 500,000 has been made available for each of the years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 for Ofcom to allocate to support community radio stations. Those running community radio stations, including any voluntary organisations, can make applications to Ofcom for grants. Awards are made by Ofcom and we do not hold centrally information on individual grants.
	Full information on these initiatives has not been gathered from all DCMS public bodies as the cost of doing so would fall beyond the threshold of disproportionate cost.
	DCMS has no central initiatives which require bids for funding from voluntary organisations, though some voluntary organisations receive funding through contracts following competitive tender.
	DCMS has two central initiatives which require bids for funding from local authorities. These are explained in the following table.
	 DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund
	The DCMS/Wolfson Fund provides support for capital projects aimed at improving the infrastructure of museums and galleries in England The fund in its present form started in 2002 and bidding rounds have taken place annually since then. The fund currently has a total budget of 4 million a year, with DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation contributing 2 million each.
	From 2004-05, the list of institutions eligible to bid for funding has included Museums with designated collections and Museums with non-designated collections in Regional Hubs. The majority of bodies in these categories are either funded or operated by local authorities. Of the 95 institutions eligible to bid, 41 are museums with designated collections and 18 are museums in Regional Hubs.
	The following table shows the total bids and sums awarded as a result of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 bidding rounds. The 2006-07 round has recently ended and the results are expected to be announced in July.
	No assessment of the cost of preparing bids or of assessing them has been undertaken.
	Further information, including a list of all eligible institutions, can be found on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/museums_and_galleries/wolfson_improvement_fund.htm
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06 
			  A. Summary of total bids(1)   
			 Total number of bids received(1) 55 48 
			 Number successful(1) 31 34 
			 Percentage 56 71 
			 Total awarded(2 )() 3,807,00 4,000,000 
			
			  B. Summary of bids from museums and galleries with designated collections   
			 Total number of bids received(1) 55 48 
			 Number received from designated collections 23 16 
			 Number successful from designated collections 17 13 
			 Bids from designated collections which were successful as a percentage of total bids 31 27 
			 Total awarded to designated collections(2 )() 1,782,200 1,231,081 
			
			  C. Summary of bids from non-designated collections in Regional Hubs   
			 Total number of bids received(1) 55 48 
			 Number received from non-designated collections in Regional Hubs 8 11 
			 Number successful from non-designated collections in Regional Hubs 3 10 
			 Bids from non-designated collections in Regional Hubs which were successful as a percentage of total bids 5 21 
			 Total awarded to non-designated collections in Regional Hubs(2) 196,200 1,053,625 
			 (1) Includes bids from all 95 eligible institutions in the following four categories: DCMS sponsored institutions; designated university-based collections; designated collections and non-designated collections in Regional Hubs.  (2 )Matched funding provided jointly by DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation. 
		
	
	 PFI Credits
	The DCMS PFI programme allows local authorities to bid for PFI credits to support the cost of their projects, as long as the project satisfies the relevant criteria.
	Table 1 lists the number of projects that put in a successful bid for DCMS PFI credits in that calendar year (we are unable to represent these figures in terms of the total number of bids received in each year).
	
		
			  Table 1: Successful bids 
			   Number 
			 2000 1 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 7 
			 2003 5 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 7 
			 Total 21 
		
	
	Table 2 lists the total amount allocated to local authority PFI projects (in the form of PFI credits) during the relevant financial year.
	
		
			  Table 2: PFI credits 
			   million 
			   Amount 
			 2000-01 6.0 
			 2001-02 6.2 
			 2002-03 6.4 
			 2003-04 0.0 
			 2004-05 62.7 
			 2005-06 47.4 
			 Total 128.7 
		
	
	The evaluation of PFI bids is handled by DCMS, Sport England, MLA and the 4ps; but given the number of organisations involved in assessing bids for DCMS PFI credits, a costing of the assessment process is not available.

Licensed Premises

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) on-licensed and  (b) off-licensed premises have lost their licences in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Data for the number of justices' licences revoked in England and Wales were collected every three years and are available for a 12-month period to the 30 June 2004 as detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Year to 30 June  Total on-licensed premises revoked  Total off-licensed premises revoked  Total revocations 
			 2001 132 51 183 
			 2004 273 81 354 
			  Source:  DCMS Statistical Bulletin: Liquor Licensing: England and Wales, July 2003 to June 2004, Table 5.

Licensing Fees

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the recommendation by the Better Regulation Commission to reduce licensing fees payable under the Licensing Act 2003 by voluntary bodies; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I am currently considering the Better Regulation Commission's report and expect to make a formal response shortly.
	However, the impact of fees on not-for-profit groups and events, as well as other sectors, is already being considered by the Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel, which will report in the autumn.

London 2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) her Department,  (b) UK Sport,  (c) the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games,  (d) the British Olympic Association on behalf of the Olympic Sport national governing bodies,  (e) the Youth Sport Trust and  (f) the National Sports Foundation are seeking to raise in sponsorship from the private sector before the London 2012 Olympics.

Richard Caborn: The information requested is set out as follows:
	 (a) My Department does not, at this time, have any plans to directly engage in the raising of sponsorship moneys from the private sector prior to the London 2012 Olympics;
	 (b) UK Sport will seek to raise 100 million in the run up to 2012 to benefit and support our high performance athletes;
	 (c) The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games' (LOCOG) current budget is approximately 2 billion. This money will be generated through ticket sales and merchandising as well as the sale of broadcast and sponsorship rights. LOCOG will be seeking to maximise the amount of money that they can raise from their sponsors to help fund the Games and achieve the overall target of 2 billion.
	 (d) This information is not held by my Department;
	 (e) The Youth Sport Trust is a charitable organisation and responsible for its own fundraising programme. However I can confirm that they have already secured sponsorship from Visa for the organisation of the 2006 UK School Games.
	 (f) The National Sports Foundation has been tasked with generating a total of 30 million additional investment into grass-roots and community sport over the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08, and this will include moneys raised from private sponsors. Any activity beyond 2008 will be contingent on the outcomes of the next Comprehensive Spending Review.

London 2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she will take  (a) to prioritise and  (b) to prevent conflicts of interest relating to the raising of private sector sponsorship in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: It is my intention that we effectively and successfully harness the passion that exists for sport in this country and provide effective mechanisms for those who wish to invest in or sponsor sport at all levels. My Department will, therefore, ensure that robust strategies are put in place precisely so that we can maximise the amount of new money flowing into sport, and avoid any possibility of these problems arising.

Preventing Extremism Together

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to implement the recommendation in the Preventing Extremism Together report to set up a unit to monitor the representation of Islam in the media.

Shaun Woodward: There are currently no plans to take forward this recommendation.

Schools Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what involvement  (a) UK Sport,  (b) the British Olympic Association and  (c) the individual sport national governing bodies will have in the staging of the Schools Olympics announced in the Budget.

Richard Caborn: The Youth Sport Trust have held initial discussions with the British Olympic Foundation, the charitable arm of the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association to integrate and embed the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games' ideals and values into the UK School Games (UKSG).
	Arrangements for the UKSG for 2007-11 are being finalised. However, the National Governing Bodies (Swimming, Fencing, Athletics, Table Tennis and Gymnastics) that are participating in the UKSG 2006 are responsible for the competition format, team selection and technical requirements of their sport in this event, as well as assuming responsibility for the developmental work around the National Competition Framework and engaging the National School Sport Associations in that process.
	UK Sport has no formal contracted involvement with the UK School Games but it is supporting the event in two ways:
	Ensuring that the performance and competition structures build on and link in with the World Class Performance Pathway; and
	Advising on the drug testing procedures for the Games
	UK Sport will also be using the event to promote Drug Free Sport through their 100 per cent. ME Outreach programme.

Schools Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many school sport organisations were consulted before the announcement of a Schools Olympics in the 2006 budget; and what representations she received in response to the consultation.

Richard Caborn: Prior to the announcement of the UK School Games (UKSG) 2006, as Minister for Sport, I co-ordinated a meeting with key partners. This included the National Council for School Sport (NCSS), (the representative body of the National School Sport Associations in England) and the NGB's from Athletics, Swimming, Gymnastics, Table Tennis and Fencing. The schools associations in England and the Home Countries were informed of these proposals, and an update of the meeting was sent to the Scottish Schools Federation.
	The Youth Sport Trust, the organisation responsible for the UKSG 2006 has confirmed support from the School Sport Associations and NGB's.
	Details of the UK School Games (UKSG) for 2007-11 have not been finalised.

Schools Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which body is responsible for the organisation of the Schools Olympics announced in the Budget; and what role the private sector will play in the project.

Richard Caborn: The lead responsibility for the UK School Games (UKSG) 2006, rests with the Youth Sport Trust. Sponsorship has been secured from Visa.
	Arrangements for the UKSG for 2007-2011 have not been finalised. However the Millennium Commission has recently invited applications from organisations willing to organise the UKSG in 2007-11 and which it is intended will receive funding from the Trust which the Commission, the Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and the Government plan to establish to support a diverse range of cultural and sporting initiatives associated with the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. It is our expectation that, as with the Glasgow event, these Games would also attract private sponsorship.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Crown Immunity

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the majority of the immunity afforded to the Crown in respect of planning legislation will be revoked.

Yvette Cooper: The legislation required to remove the Crown's immunity from planning legislation has been made and will be laid before Parliament shortly.

Housing

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations her Department has received since 4 May on the proposed demolition of urban terraced housing in northern cities.

Yvette Cooper: We have received no representations of this kind since 4 May, but the majority received prior to this date are in support of the proposals put forward by the nine housing market renewal pathfinders.

Housing

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the delivery by her Department of the necessary additional infrastructure for housing expansion in North Northamptonshire.

Yvette Cooper: Infrastructure investment must support housing growth, using a mix of funding from mainstream programmes, investment by the private sector and top-up funding from the growth areas programme.
	The Government are encouraging local delivery partners to focus on identifying, prioritising and sourcing investment in their locationsbased on their individual circumstances and priorities, and using a mix of public and private funding.
	Northamptonshire county council has commissioned EDAW consultants to undertake a study of the infrastructure requirements in North Northamptonshire. This work was supported by funds from my Department.
	Delivery of the necessary infrastructure to support additional housing in the growth areas will be undertaken by a wide range of public and private organisations. Substantial funding has already been provided by my Department for those infrastructure schemes already identified to support growth, through growth area funding, and jointly with DfT through community infrastructure fund.

Housing

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will revise the housing expansion target for North Northamptonshire contained in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional spatial strategy.

Yvette Cooper: There are no plans at present to revise this target.

Infrastructure

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions in the last two years personnel from the growth areas directorate have visited North Northamptonshire to discuss additional infrastructure provision, broken down by district council area.

Yvette Cooper: My officials from Growth Areas Division have been in regular contact with the local delivery vehicles in North Northamptonshire over the last two years to discuss growth issues, including infrastructure provision.
	Local delivery vehicles have been established in most of the major locations of growth to drive the delivery of new homes and infrastructure. In North Northamptonshire the local authorities have been members of the delivery vehicles Catalyst Corby and North Northants Together and are founding members of the newly announced North Northants Development Companya merger of the two organisations. The North Northants Development Company will continue to work with their partners to assess priority infrastructure requirements and suitable funding sources.

Infrastructure

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her latest estimate is of the cost of infrastructure for  (a) schools,  (b) health services,  (c) transport,  (d) water and sewerage and  (e) other services required to accompany housing expansion in North Northamptonshire.

Yvette Cooper: Infrastructure investment must support housing growth, using a mix of funding from mainstream programmes, investment by the private sector and top-up funding from the growth areas programme.
	Northamptonshire county council has commissioned EDAW consultants to undertake a study of the infrastructure requirements in North Northamptonshire. This work was supported by funds from my Department.
	The Government are encouraging local delivery partners to focus on identifying, prioritising and sourcing investment in their locationsbased on their individual circumstances and priorities, and using a mix of public and private funding.
	Assessing the infrastructure requirements for growth is a complex and lengthy process. It needs to assess the detailed layout of a development as it evolves and to allow for changing approaches to service provision affecting what is needed and when.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much on average has been paid  (a) per person and  (b) to each terminally ill person from the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(2)  how many  (a) people and  (b) people who are terminally ill are eligible for payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(3)  how many  (a) people and  (b) people who are terminally ill have received payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme in each month since the scheme started.

James Purnell: To date, 43 people have been assessed as eligible for payments. Four of these are not yet being paid as they have not reached age 65. None of those eligible are terminally ill.
	The gross average payment is 2,291.64 a year, or 190.97 a month. The following table details the number of payments made in each month since the first payments in December 2005.
	
		
			  Payments made each month 
			   Number 
			 December 13 
			 January 15 
			 February 27 
			 March 32 
			 April 39

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much  (a) the largest and  (b) the smallest payment has been from the Financial Assistance Scheme.

James Purnell: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The largest gross payment has been 7,557.72 a year, or 629.81 a month;
	 (b) The smallest gross payment has been 600.96 a year, or 50.08 a month.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much capital investment in technology systems there has been for the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(2)  if he will list the main IT suppliers for the Financial Assistance Scheme; and how much has been spent with each supplier.

James Purnell: There has been no capital investment in IT systems for the Financial Assistance Scheme. The FAS IT system is being designed and built by BT and delivered in phases. At 31 March 2006 we had made payments totalling 483,707.
	The IT application is also supported by BT in the live environment for a monthly charge of 13,698 since November 2005. EDS provide the hosting service for the FAS IT system at a charge of 4,252.50 per month, also since November 2005.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were receiving payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme on 31 May 2005; and how many he expects will be in receipt of payments on 31 December 2006.

James Purnell: The first payments were made to 13 people on 21 December 2005. In the longer term we expect up to 15,000 people to be eligible for payments. We have no estimates for 31 December 2006.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many of his Department's staff are employed to administer the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(2)  what the total staff cost of the Financial Assistance Scheme has been, broken down by  (a) managers and  (b) administrative staff.

James Purnell: The Financial Assistance Scheme Operational Unit in York employs 69 people to administer the scheme. Reflecting actual working patterns, this equates to a whole time equivalent of 62 people.
	The costs for the financial year 2005-06 are for  (a) managers: 234,281.29 and  (b) administrative staff: 1,052,724.76.
	 Note
	Assumes managers are in grades of Higher Executive Officer and above.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many surviving spouses of scheme members have received payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(2)  how much is the average amount of payment made from the Financial Assistance Scheme to surviving spouses of pension scheme members;
	(3)  how much is the  (a) largest and  (b) smallest payment made from the Financial Assistance Scheme to surviving spouses of pension scheme members.

James Purnell: Under the Data Protection Act it is unlawful to reveal data which relate to a living individual who could be identified from those data. As there is only one surviving spouse currently receiving assistance, I cannot provide the information requested.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals have been made against a decision concerning eligibility for the Financial Assistance Scheme; and what proportion have been  (a) successful,  (b) unsuccessful and  (c) not yet determined.

James Purnell: To date, no appeals have been made.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms are in place to reclaim overpayments made by the Financial Assistance Scheme.

James Purnell: In accordance with regulations, recovery of overpayments of financial assistance will be handled in the same way as recoveries of overpayments of social security benefits.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the average time taken to process applications to the Financial Assistance Scheme in the last 12 months.

James Purnell: As the Financial Assistance Scheme Operational Unit opened on 1 September 2005, information is only available for the last eight months.
	Applications are generally made by trustees in the form of a notification of the scheme details to the Operational Unit.
	Between 1 September 2005 and 25 April, 915 notification decisions have been made and on average it has taken 11 calendar days to process each notification.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls were received by the financial assistance scheme operational unit in each quarter for which figures are available; and how many calls  (a) were answered,  (b) met an engaged tone and  (c) were abandoned in each quarter.

James Purnell: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			   September-November 2005  December 2005-February 2006  March-April 2006 
			 Calls received 552 903 467 
			 Calls answered 544 898 463 
			 Calls engaged 0 0 0 
			 Calls abandoned(1) 8 5 4 
			 (1 )15 of the 17 abandoned calls were abandoned within two seconds, giving staff no chance of answering the call.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the 400 million made available for the financial assistance scheme he expects to be spent on  (a) administrative costs,  (b) capital costs and  (c) payments to beneficiaries.

James Purnell: There are no capital costs and the administrative costs will be met from the Department's existing administration resources, separately from the 400 million. The provision of 400 million is to be used entirely for payments to beneficiaries.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people aged 60, 61 and 62 years are not eligible for assistance from the financial assistance scheme because their scheme had a retirement age of 65;
	(2)  how many people with a retirement age of 65 years who are over 60 years will not fall within the financial assistance scheme's three year window;
	(3)  how many people fall outside  (a) the financial assistance scheme's three year window and  (b) the three year window but are within 10 years of retirement.

James Purnell: We estimate that around 70,000 of the 85,000 who may otherwise be eligible for assistance under the financial assistance scheme may fall outside the three year window and that around 55,000 may fall outside the three year window but are within 10 years of retirement.
	We will not be able to provide more specific figures on the number of members with a particular retirement age and of a particular age, until detailed data have been collected from eligible schemes as they complete winding up.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension schemes will be eligible only for interim financial assistance scheme payments due to the wind up being delayed by trustees seeking to recover additional funds through legal action.

James Purnell: We cannot pay full financial assistance scheme payments until the final scale of individual losses can be established at the end of wind- up. 'Initial payments' allow us to pay some money at a lower rate to those qualifying members who become entitled to assistance before their scheme completes wind up. While the wind-up process may take some time to complete and this may be affected by ongoing court action, all FAS qualifying schemes will ultimately complete wind-up and all eligible qualifying members will then receive full FAS payments.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a category of attendance allowance which exempts an individual from vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Attendance allowance is available for those who become disabled after the age of 65 and, unlike disability living allowance, does not have a mobility component. While some of those in receipt of attendance allowance may have mobility difficulties, receipt of attendance allowance does not of itself necessarily represent mobility needs; rather, it contributes towards the personal care needs of those with disabilities who are over the age of 65.
	The Government believe that the benefit arrangements in place for disabled people are both fair and sensible and, in particular, that it is right to give the most help with the extra costs of disability to those who are severely disabled earlier in life. The Government have no plans to change the rules governing either AA or DLA.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Prosecutors (Humberside)

Diana Johnson: To ask the Solicitor-General how many full-time equivalent qualified prosecutors there were in Humberside  (a) in 1997 and  (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: In May 1997, the CPS had 13 geographic areas and there were 95.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) prosecutors in the CPS Humber area, which consisted of Humberside, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire police force areas. By applying, a calculation based on the percentage of staff employed in each of the three areas that made up the CPS Humberside area as at April 1999, we can estimate that there would have been 30.0 FTE prosecutors notionally employed in the Humberside area in May 1997.
	As at May 2006, the Humberside area have 44.4 FTE prosecutors.

PRIME MINISTER

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions has he had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the situation regarding bovine TB; what plans he has to study the results of the recent consultation on a new strategy; and whether he will be involved directly in any decision on that strategy.

Tony Blair: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Consultants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the companies which were paid consultancy fees by his Office in 2005-06; how much each was paid; and what each of the companies was used to accomplish.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Hilary Armstrong) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Honours (Investigation)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister how many members of his private office have been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crimes Directorate in connection with investigations relating to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the press briefing given by my Official Spokesman on Wednesday 3 May, a copy of which is available on the No. 10 website.

Middle East (Special Envoy)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister what the duties and responsibilities are of his Special Envoy to the Middle East; whether this post incurs a cost to the public purse; how he measures the efficacy of this person's work; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 17 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 2581-82W.
	Lord Levy receives no remuneration and travels at his own expense. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and diplomatic missions overseas provide him with practical support.

Ministerial Resignations

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has received offers from members of his Government to resign which he has not accepted.

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  on which occasions he has asked  (a) a Cabinet and  (b) a junior Minister to resign during changes to his Government in each year since 1997;
	(2)  which  (a) Cabinet and  (b) junior ministers offered to tender their resignation in each year since 1997; and how many of such offers he (i) accepted and (ii) rejected.

Tony Blair: Details of Members of Government for the years requested are set out in the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Resignations

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he used in deciding not to accept the resignation of the Home Secretary.

Tony Blair: A full list of Government changes and resignations was announced on 5 May. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and on the No. 10 website.

Ministerial Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of his staff is  (a) male,  (b) female and  (c) disabled.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Hilary Armstrong) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Petrol Prices

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the price of petrol; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Staff Development

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was of  (a) staff away days and  (b) staff team building exercises in his Office in each of the last three years.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Hilary Armstrong) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

TRANSPORT

A14

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the future development of the A14 around Kettering from  (a) the East Midlands Regional Assembly,  (b) the East Midlands Development Agency and  (c) the East Midlands arm of the Highways Agency.

Stephen Ladyman: We have not received any specific representations from either the East Midlands Regional Assembly or the East Midlands Development Agency. Following our response to the recommendations of the London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study in July 2003, the Highways Agency is currently investigating options to improve this section of the A14 and continues to work with the County Council and other local partners, including both the Regional Assembly and Development Agency. They hope to submit advice for Ministers to consider later this year.

Air Safety

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission research to review the extent of airline self regulation and assess the impact of commercial practices in the airline industry on operational safety.

Gillian Merron: All United Kingdom airlines are subject to safety regulation and oversight by the Civil Aviation Authority.
	The authority's method of safety oversight is well established and is proportionate to the size and complexity of an airline's operation. Oversight includes periodic audit inspections in both commercial and maintenance disciplines. The audits and continued oversight activities are designed to ensure that an airline's commercial practices enhance rather than detract from operational safety. As a result, the Government do not consider that research is necessary.

Airport Security (Northern Ireland)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answers of 26 April 2006,  Official Report, column 1089W, on airport security (Northern Ireland), and 4 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 1733-4W, on airport security, what steps are being taken at each of Northern Ireland's three airports to reduce the number of incidents requiring investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Gillian Merron: There is a robust regulatory regime in place to ensure the safe operation of aircraft in the United Kingdom. Both the Civil Aviation .Authority's Mandatory Occurrence Reporting scheme and investigations by the Department's Air Accidents Investigation Branch have key roles in this regime.
	The CAA analyses Mandatory Occurrence Reports to identify any patterns or trends so that it can take any appropriate regulatory action. AAIB makes such safety recommendations as it considers necessary on a case by case basis to regulators and industry to prevent further accidents or incidents occurring.

Aviation Fuel

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of how many litres of fuel are bought in a year for use in turbine-powered aircraft.

Gillian Merron: The Government publish annually the tonnage of aviation turbine fuel consumed in the UK. In 2004 that figure was 11.9 million tonnes.

British Airways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds were given to British Airways in each of the last 10 years.

Gillian Merron: None.

Buses

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much bus subsidy has been provided in the  (a) Greater Manchester,  (b) Merseyside,  (c) Tyne and Wear,  (d) West Yorkshire and (e) South Yorkshire passenger transport authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table shows the totals for the last nine years of expenditure by the relevant passenger transport authority on support for local bus services and re-imbursement of concessionary travel fares on buses in each area. There is no comparable figure for 1995-96.
	
		
			   million 
			   (a) Greater Manchester  (b) Merseyside  (c) Tyne and Wear  (d) West Yorkshire  (e) South Yorkshire 
			 1996-97 57.4 53.1 29.5 40.1 27.1 
			 1997-98 56.6 57.1 28.0 38.7 25.2 
			 1998-99 58.7 59.7 27.9 40.5 17.4 
			 1999-2000 60.3 43.5 30.3 39.2 16.9 
			 2000-01 63.5 45.0 30.1 42.9 17.6 
			 2001-02 59.2 46.8 30.0 44.9 18.8 
			 2002-03 61.8 49.2 32.1 42.4 18.6 
			 2003-04 77.5 52.4 27.4 45.0 20.3 
			 2004-05 71.4 57.3 27.2 40.9 22.4 
			  Source:  Local authority returns to ODPM, revenue out-turn (RO2). 
		
	
	In addition, operators of local bus services receive Bus Service Operators Grant from this Department. This is paid direct to operators and is not attributed to a specific area.

Buses

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people travelled on buses in  (a) Greater London and  (b) Greater Manchester in each year since 1985; and what percentage of the total population this represented in each case.

Gillian Merron: The number of bus passenger journeys is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Million 
			   London  Greater Manchester 
			 1985-86 1,152 357 
			 1986-87 1,164 267 
			 1987-88 1,207 310 
			 1988-89 1,211 297 
			 1989-90 1,188 291 
			 1990-91 1,178 270 
			 1991-92 1,149 260 
			 1992-93 1,129 252 
			 1993-94 1,117 236 
			 1994-95 1,155 226 
			 1995-96 1,193 224 
			 1996-97 1,230 212 
			 1997-98 1,281 211 
			 1998-99 1,266 217 
			 1999-2000 1,294 202 
			 2000-01 1,347 204 
			 2001-02 1,422 208 
			 2002-03 1,527 208 
			 2003-04 1,692 206 
			 2004-05 1,777 203 
			  Source:  DfT Annual Surveys of PSV Operators, 
		
	
	The figures in the table include journeys made by non-residents. The proportion of residents who used buses at least once a year is available from the National Travel Survey (NTS), as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Greater London  Greater Manchester 
			 1998 80 63 
			 1999 81 63 
			 2000 79 59 
			 2001 80 55 
			 2003 77 60 
		
	
	The NTS has recorded the proportion of people using buses at county level only since 1998, and on an alternate-year basis only since 2002. Data for all available years are shown in the aforementioned table.

Buses

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of buses in  (a) Leeds and  (b) Kirklees.

Gillian Merron: This information is not held by the Department for Transport.

Buses

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department is taking to encourage bus operators to introduce higher quality modern vehicles.

Gillian Merron: In 2002, the Department agreed targets with the Confederation of Passenger Transport to improve services for bus users. The Confederation committed its members, among other things, to achieve and maintain an average bus fleet age of eight years or less until 2010, and to ensure that 50 per cent. of buses are fully accessible by 2010.
	The most recent surveys show that the average age of vehicles used mainly as local buses was 7.1 years (as on 1 July 2005) and that 46 per cent. of such vehicles were fully accessible (as on 31 March 2005).

Heathrow

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the maximum hourly landing rate at Heathrow.

Gillian Merron: The maximum number of arrivals at Heathrow is currently 44, with an hourly average across the day of 39.6.

Ice Falls (Aircraft)

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ice falls from civilian aircraft there have been in Leicestershire in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available; where and when the incidents occurred; and what  (a) injuries to people and  (b) damage to property resulted.

Gillian Merron: The Civil Aviation Authority has received four reports of ice falls occurring in Leicestershire over the last 20 years. None of the ice falls caused any injury. The dates, location and property damage caused by the four reported ice falls are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Date  Time (UTC)  Location  County  Injuries  Damage to property 
			 24 July1987 1500 Quorn Leicestershire None Roof tiles 
			 7 October 1993 2215 Burbage Leicestershire None None 
			 2 September 1999 1810 Barlestone Leicestershire None Shed panels and furniture 
			 18 March 2006 1640 Great Glen Leicestershire None Vehicle on driveway 
		
	
	It has not been possible for the Civil Aviation Authority to conclude definitively that the ice in these cases fell from civil aircraft.

Level Crossings

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many level crossings have been  (a) closed,  (b) upgraded and  (c) introduced in each region of England and Wales since 1997.

Derek Twigg: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, who I have asked to reply directly to the hon. Member.

Liverpool Airport

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger flights  (a) commenced and  (b) terminated at Liverpool John Lennon International airport in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The number of passenger flights that commenced and terminated at Liverpool John Lennon International airport is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of passenger flights to/from Liverpool airport 2003-05 
			  Thousand 
			   Commenced  Terminated 
			 2003 16.0 16.0 
			 2004 17.5 17.4 
			 2005 22.8 22.8 
			  Note :  Excludes air taxis (charter flights operated by aircraft below 15 tonnes maximum takeoff weight authorised)  Source:  Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Airports Statistics

Liverpool Airport

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger movements were recorded at Liverpool John Lennon International airport in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: Information on passenger movements at Liverpool John Lennon International airport for last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Passenger movements at John Lennon International airport: 2003-05 
			  thousand 
			   Number 
			 2003 3,175 
			 2004 3,352 
			 2005 4,409 
			  Note:  Passenger traffic carried on air taxi (charter flights operated by aircraft below 15 tonnes maximum takeoff weight authorised) services is excluded.   Source:  Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Airports Statistics

M26

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated date is in which the M26 between junctions one and two is expected to be resurfaced with quieter surfacing.

Stephen Ladyman: Resurfacing was carried out at seven locations on the M26 between J1 and J2A in 2005-06.
	The works had been identified to treat areas of life expired carriageway and, in total, 17.6 lane kilometres (approximately a third of the total area) were resurfaced using a low noise material.
	Subject to the availability of funding and the rate of deterioration of the road surface it is expected that resurfacing the remaining carriageway between junctions J1 and 2A eastbound will take place in 2008-09 and westbound, between J2A and J1, in 2009-10. Low noise surfacing will be used and this will complete the resurfacing of the carriageways between junctions 1 and 2A.

Nottingham East Midlands Airport

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overseas visitors arrived at Nottingham East Midlands airport in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The information available on the estimated number of overseas passengers on international flights at Nottingham East Midlands airport is as follows:
	
		
			  Nottingham East Midlands airport, overseas passengers on international flights 
			   Thousand 
			 1975 23 
			 1983 31 
			 1992-93 80 
			 1999 132 
			 2003 239 
			  Source:  Civil Aviation Authority passenger surveys. 
		
	
	These figures include both arrivals and departures. Information on nationality is not collected every year at this airport.

Nottingham East Midlands Airport

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British passengers have flown out on international flights from Nottingham East Midlands airport in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The information available on the estimated number of United Kingdom passengers on international flights at Nottingham East Midlands airport is as follows:
	
		
			  Nottingham East Midlands airport, United Kingdom passengers on international flights 
			   Thousand 
			 1975 335 
			 1983 648 
			 1992-93 891 
			 1999 1,661 
			 2003 3,104 
			  Source:  Civil Aviation Authority passenger surveys. 
		
	
	These figures include both arrivals and departures. Information on nationality is not collected every year at this airport.

Number Plates

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on the promotion of spray-on formulas which obscure vehicle number plates.

Stephen Ladyman: The use of sprays designed to defeat speed cameras or automatic number plate reading equipment is in contravention of the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 and is subject to a fine of up to 1,000. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with police and trading standards officers to investigate what action might be taken against companies that advertise and sell such products.

Parking

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities in  (a) England,  (b) the North West and  (c) Greater Manchester have decriminalised parking offences within their boundaries.

Gillian Merron: In England 146 local authorities (including those in the North West) have Decriminalisation Parking Enforcement (DPE) powers. In the North West economic planning region 32 local authorities (including those in Greater Manchester) have DPE powers. In Greater Manchester nine local authorities have DPE powers.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in capacity will be made to rail passenger services as a consequence of the Government's detailed specification for the Greater Western franchise.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport specified a minimum train service for the Greater Western franchise. This number will increase as a result of the timetable changes announced by First Great Western (FGW) on 3 April 2006. Rolling stock capacity is also a significant determinant of total capacity, and this was not specified by the Department; FGW's redesign of the High Speed Train fleet, a franchise obligation together with a new timetable, will increase capacity on commuter and long-distance trains between London and Reading.

Railways

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the data on which the specifications in future rail franchise tender documents are based are made available to the public.

Derek Twigg: The non-commercially sensitive data on which the specifications for rail franchise tender documents are based are already available to the public via the following, and include:
	TEMPRO forecasts (Trip End Model Presentation Program)dft.gsi.gov.uk.
	NATA (New Approach to Appraisal)dft.gsi.gov.uk
	Standard industry demand models and growth trend data is owned by the Office of Rail Regulation and ATOC (www.rail-reg.gov.uk and www.atoc.org
	Journey data is available from the Office of Rail Regulation .
	Commercially sensitive data, which are usually owned by Train Operating Companies are generally not available to the public.

Road Accidents

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road traffic accidents resulting in fatality occurred in Suffolk in each year since 1997; and how many deaths these caused in total;
	(2)  how many serious motorcycle accidents occurred in Suffolk in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many pedestrians have been seriously injured as a result of road traffic accidents in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of  (a) fatal accidents and fatalities  (b) serious accidents involving a motorcycle and  (c) pedestrians seriously injured in personal injury road accidents, reported to the police in Suffolk in each year between 1997 and 2004 (the latest for which figures are available) are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of fatal accidents, fatalities, serious accidents involving a motorcycle and pedestrians seriously injured in Suffolk: 1997 to 2004 
			   Fatal accidents  Number of fatalities  Serious accidents involving motorcycles( 1)  Pedestrians seriously injured 
			 1997 42 43 70 62 
			 1998 21 23 59 56 
			 1999 45 48 72 56 
			 2000 50 56 80 59 
			 2001 49 53 75 41 
			 2002 42 43 64 41 
			 2003 50 60 69 42 
			 2004 40 42 70 55 
			 (1 )Includes motorcycles and scooters, but excludes mopeds.

Road Safety

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle accidents occurred on (a) A roads and  (b) motorways in Lancashire in each year since 1990; and how many (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries there were as a result in each year.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of road accidents reported to the police on  (a) A roads and  (b) motorways in Lancashire and the resulting (i) fatalities and (ii) serious injuries in each year from 1990 to 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available) are given in the table.
	
		
			  Accidents, fatalities and serious injuries on A roads and motorways in Lancashire(excluding Unitary Authorities): 1990-2004 
			   A roads  Motorways 
			   Accidents  Fatalities  Serious Injuries  Accidents  Fatalities  Serious Injuries 
			 1990 2,038 54 398 229 15 75 
			 1991 1,954 45 377 164 11 44 
			 1992 2,044 58 424 207 8 46 
			 1993 1,983 42 442 222 7 70 
			 1994 2,127 53 513 254 8 91 
			 1995 1,968 40 488 220 6 67 
			 1996 1,988 37 440 241 8 71 
			 1997 2,033 36 451 364 7 70 
			 1998 1,863 37 394 358 6 65 
			 1999 1,864 34 398 343 9 58 
			 2000 1,813 28 356 286 5 60 
			 2001 1,886 32 349 299 7 42 
			 2002 1,887 30 319 332 2 55 
			 2003 1,673 31 328 337 8 54 
			 2004 1,848 27 358 388 5 50

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to encourage pregnant women to wear seat belts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the risks to unborn babies in a car crash; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department recently published a new leaflet aimed at all pregnant women as part of the THINK! campaign seatbelt strategy to engage with audiences that are more difficult to reach with a particular message through mainstream media channels.
	The aim of the leaflet is to educate mothers-to-be on the importance of wearing a seatbelt correctly to protect themselves and their unborn baby and to promote messages on child car seats. The leaflet will be distributed to 4000 doctors' surgeries across the UK and will be displayed prominently on countertops and tables in waiting areas. The leaflet is available on-line at www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/seatbelts/pregnant.htm
	Pregnant women are required in law to use seat belts. A doctor may exempt any person from seatbelt wearing if there is a medical reason for such an exemption.
	The Department has not undertaken its own studies as there is research elsewhere that adequately demonstrates the risks to mothers and unborn children in a car crash.

Road Traffic Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amendments have been made to the Road Traffic Act 1988; for what purpose; and when.

Stephen Ladyman: The Road Traffic Act 1988 has been amended on many occasions by subsequent primary and secondary legislation. A breakdown of all these amendments, their purpose and when they came into effect, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, several organisations publish consolidated versions of the Act, which also document the amendments. One of these, Butterworths, is available online to Members of this House.

Royal Helicopter

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 5 April 2006, on the Royal Helicopter, if he will make a statement on flights by Prince Andrew to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews since 1 January 2004.

Gillian Merron: There have been no helicopter flights by HRH The Duke of York to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club since 1 January 2004.

Transport Projects

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial value is assigned by his Department to each hour of time saved when undertaking cost benefit analysis of transport projects; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department provides guidance on the values that should be used in undertaking cost benefit analysis of all routine transport projects. It also provides guidance on how the values should be assumed to increase through time.
	The published values differ according to whether the transport user benefiting from the time savings is travelling in the course of work or in their leisure time. To reflect the empirical evidence, values for leisure time differ according to whether or not the travel time savings is for a commuting trip. The values for work differ by transport mode. The reason for this is that the work values are based on the cost savings to the employer and this average saving differs between modes.
	The average value placed on time saved in work time in the cost benefit analysis of routine transport schemes is equal to 26.73 an hour in 2002 prices and values. The value placed on commuting time savings is equal to 5.04 an hour (in 2002 prices and values) and the value placed on time saved in the course of all other leisure trips is 4.46 an hour (in 2002 prices and values).

Transport Projects

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial value is assigned by his Department to each life saved when undertaking cost benefit analysis of major transport infrastructure projects; whether that value is applied to all other appraisals undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The most recent values used to estimate the benefits of the prevention of road accidents are set out in the Highways Economic Note No. 1: 2004 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties which can be found on the DfT website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_610642.hcsp
	There is no formal value set for measures affecting aviation and maritime transport.